• The following pages have some identification markers for each of the found in

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Sno. Name Binomial Name 1 Black-bellied Sandgrouse orientalis 2 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles exustus 3 Pterocles indicus 4 Palla's Sandgrouse paradoxus 5 Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles Alchata 6 Pterocles senegallus 7 Pterocles tibetanus

©www.ogaclicks.com Black-bellied Sandgrouse Identification Tips Black-bellied Sandgrouse : Pterocles orientalis: Winter visitor to North West India

Grey Head Upperparts are golden-brown with darker markings

Bill is grey to black-horn

Black chin

Chestnut throat

Grey Breast Male Thin black border around the lower breast Blackish grey legs Black belly Brown, finely marked head Brown, finely marked upperparts

Yellow throat Female

Brown, finely marked breast Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Inskipp and Grimmett ©www.ogaclicks.com White patch on lower breast Important id point www.HBW.com Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse Identification Tips Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse: Pterocles exustus: Widespread resident in India ( Except Himalayas, East & North East) Bill is slate blue with darker tip Grey Head Dusky buff chin Dusky buff face with yellowish wash Dusky buff throat Upperparts are buff brown

Buff Breast

Black fringed yellowish Black pectoral band spots on wing coverts

Chestnut belly Pin tail Brown, finely marked head Black underbelly

Male Blackish grey legs

Black spotted throat Brown, finely marked upperparts

Buffish breast Smaller tail , black spotted

Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Painted Sandgrouse Identification Tips Painted Sandgrouse: Pterocles indicus: Widespread resident in India ( Except Himalayas, East , extreme south & North East) Black bar across the white forehead

Bill is orange Brown face Male Brown chin

Brown throat Upperparts are striped with black & brown

Brown Breast Wings are striped with black ,white & brown

Broad black and white band around the chest Tail is striped with black & brown Brown, finely marked head Thin black and white band around the underbelly

Brown, finely striped upperparts Brown unmarked wing coverts Vermiculated throat & breast Blackish grey legs

Brownish vermiculated underparts

Female Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Pallas’s Sandgrouse Identification Tips Pallas’s Sandgrouse: Pterocles paradoxus: Vagrant in India Brown forehead Grey Crown

Brown face Bill is Horn grey Brown face Grey Ear-coverts Upperparts are buff coloured &barred Brown chin Grey throat Wings are Buff pink with black spots Grey Breast Pin tail

White & black Pectoral band

Pinkish Buff Underparts Yellow washed face Whitish grey legs Male Buff Brown, heavily barred upperparts Pinkish buff unmarked wing coverts

Black band on Throat

Plain buffish pink Breast

White belly Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Female ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Identification Tips Pin-tailed Sandgrouse : Pterocles alchata caudacutus: Winter visitor to North West India Blue orbital skin Chestnut Crown Black eye band Bill is bluish grey-horn Chestnut n face Black chin Upperparts are Spotted with yellow spots

Black band on throat Back has narrow Black & Yellow stripes

chestnut band on breast bordered with black lines Rump has narrow Black & Yellow stripes

Black Pectoral band Long central rectrices

White Underparts Yellow washed face Grey legs Barred Nape & neck Primaries are black with Male pale edges heavily barred Whitish chin upperparts Chestnut edged with black and white wing coverts Black band on Throat Short Tail

Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Female ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Spotted Sandgrouse Identification Tips Spotted Sandgrouse : Pterocles senegallus: Breeds in Rajasthan, Winter visitor to North West India Yellow orbital skin Grey Crown Grey nape Bill is bluish grey-horn Orange chin Orange neck Orange throat Upperparts are pinkish-grey & spotted

Coverts are dark with buff edges Grey Breast

Back is plain pinkish grey

Long central rectrices

Pinkish brown Underparts Spotted nape

Greyish-brown Grey legs Upperparts heavily Male spotted Yellowish chin & throat Flight feathers are dark with buffish edges Black spotted breast

Heavily Spotted wings & coverts Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent Female ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Important id point www.HBW.com Tibetan Sandgrouse Identification Tips Tibetan Sandgrouse : Pterocles tibetanus : Resident of North Himalayas in India ( Ladhak) Yellow orbital skin Barred grey crown Barred grey nape Bill is bluish grey-horn Orange face Orange chin Barred grey neck Upperparts are Buff with Black spots Barred grey breast Coverts are Unspotted Pinkish brown

Pinkish brown breast sides Long central rectrices

White Underparts Bill is greyish horn

Narrowly black-barred Male Upperparts

White legs Flight feathers are unspotted buff

Vermiculated Upper belly

Narrowly black-barred wings & coverts Difference from male Reference : Birds of Indian Subcontinent ©www.ogaclicks.com Inskipp and Grimmett Female Important id point www.HBW.com