Pterocles alchata -- (Linnaeus, 1766) ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PTEROCLIFORMES -- PTEROCLIDAE Common names: Pin-tailed Sandgrouse; European Red List Assessment European Red List Status LC -- Least Concern, (IUCN version 3.1) Assessment Information Year published: 2015 Date assessed: 2015-03-31 Assessor(s): BirdLife International Reviewer(s): Symes, A. Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L. Assessment Rationale European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC) EU27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

At both European and EU27 scales this species has a very large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence 10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). The population trend appears to be increasing, and hence the species does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (30% decline over ten years or three generations).

For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern within both Europe and the EU27. Occurrence Countries/Territories of Occurrence Native: Azerbaijan; France; Portugal; Spain; Turkey Vagrant: Cyprus; Greece; Italy; Malta; Gibraltar (to UK) Population The European population is estimated at 4,200-6,200 pairs, which equates to 8,400-12,400 mature individuals. The population in the EU27 is estimated at 4,100-5,700 pairs, which equates to 8,200-11,400 mature individuals. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Trend In Europe and the EU27 the population size is estimated to be increasing. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF. Habitats and Ecology The species inhabits steppe habitats requiring dry, open grassland plains without trees or high bushes (de Juana 1989). It favours lowland plains with a mosaic of natural pastures, arable fields and uncultivated sandy or saline land (Cramp 1985). In Spain it requires reasonable amounts of fallow and stubble land and this is probably true elsewhere (Suárez et al. 1997). In central Spain it avoids cereal crops, olive groves and vineyards (Martín et al. 2010a). It also avoids dense scrub, tall crops and hilly areas and is typically found below 1,000 m (Madge and McGowan 2002). It often associates with the Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) particularly in winter (Martín et al. 2010b). It lays between April and August but mostly in May-June (Madge and McGowan 2012). On average it lays three eggs (Urban et al. 1986). The nest is a slight scrape or natural depression in the ground and is usually unlined (Madge and McGowan 2002). It mainly feeds on seeds, but to a lesser extent also green shoots and leaves (de Juana and Kirwan 2013). The species is sedentary and nomadic in Europe (Rasmussen and Anderton 2005). Habitats & Altitude Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breeding Artificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable breeding Grassland - Temperate suitable non-breeding Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable breeding Shrubland - Mediterranean-type Shrubby Vegetation suitable non-breeding Altitude max. 1000 m Occasional altitudinal limits Threats This species is declining due to changes in agricultural practices (Madge and McGowan 2002). In Spain, 55% of disturbance to the species came from raptors, although mammalian predators and man were also sources of disturbance (Ferns and Hinsley 1994). Threats & Impacts Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses Agriculture & Agro-industry Timing Scope Severity Impact aquaculture grazing, ranching or Ongoing Minority (<50%) Slow, Significant Low Impact farming Declines Stresses Ecosystem conversion; Ecosystem degradation Human intrusions & Recreational Timing Scope Severity Impact disturbance activities Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact Stresses Species disturbance Invasive and other Unspecified hawks Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic (ACCIPITRIDAE) Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact species, genes & diseases Stresses Species mortality; Species disturbance Invasive and other Unspecified species Timing Scope Severity Impact problematic Ongoing Majority (50-90%) Negligible declines Low Impact species, genes & diseases Stresses Species mortality; Species disturbance Conservation Conservation Actions Underway EU Birds Directive Annex I. Due to its close positive interactions with Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax), conservation measures for on species is likely to benefit the other (Martín et al. 2010b).

Conservation Actions Proposed Low-impact farming methods should be promoted to help preserve and expand suitable habitat. Key sites should be protected to help minimise disturbance. Monitoring programmes should be set up to record species's trends and research into the species's habitat requirements and population dynamics be undertaken. Bibliography Cramp, S., ed. 1985. The birds of the western Palearctic, 4. Oxford: Oxford University Press. de Juana, E. 1989. [The birds of the Spanish steppes.] pp.199–221 in [Seminar on the arid lands of Spain.] Madrid: Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. (In Spanish.) de Juana, E. and Kirwan, G.M. 2013. Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2013. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/54083 on 6 October 2014). Ferns, P.A. and Hinsley, S.A. 1994. Effects of raptors on the activity of sandgrouse. Journal of Raptor Research, 28: 236-241. Madge, S.C. and McGowan, P. 2002. Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse, including Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and Allies. Christopher Helm, London. Bibliography Martín, C.A., Casas, F., Mougeot, F., García, J.T. and Viñuela, J. 2010a. Seasonal variations in habitat preferences of the Pin-tailed Sandgrouse in agrarian pseudo-steppes. Ardeola 57(1): 191-198. Martín, C.A., Casas, F., Mougeot, F., García, J.T. and Viñuela, J. 2010b. Positive interactions between vulnerable species in agrarian pseudo-steppes: habitat use by pin-tailed sandgrouse depends on its association with the little bustard. Animal Conservation 13: 383–389. Rasmussen, P.C. and Anderton, J.C. 2005. Birds of South Asia: the Ripley Guide. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Suárez, F., Martínez, C., Herranz, J. and Yanes, M. 1997. Conservation status and farmland requirements of Pin-tailed Sandgrouse Pterocles alchata and Black-bellied Sandgrouse Pterocles orientalis in Spain. Biological Conservation 82(1): 73-80. Urban, E.K., Fry, C.H. and Keith, S. eds. 1986. The Birds of Africa. Vol. 2. Academic Press, London & New York. Map (see overleaf)