Black-faced sandgrouse

Pterocles decoratus

The black-faced sandgrouse is a species of bird in the Pteroclidae family. It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus) Tsavo West NP, Kenya. 4 Mar, 2023. Black-faced sandgrouse,Geotagged,Kenya,Pterocles decoratus,Summer

Naming

There are three subspecies:
⤷ "P. d. decoratus" - SE Kenya and E Tanzania
⤷ "P. d. ellenbecki" - NE Uganda and N Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia
⤷ "P. d. loveridgei" - W Kenya and W Tanzania
Black-faced Sandgrouse female Black-faced sandgrouse,Geotagged,Kenya,Pterocles decoratus,Winter

Reproduction

The breeding season of birds such as the sandgrouse which live in semi-arid tropics correlates with rainfall, thus the true extent or timing at which the breeding season will occur is highly unpredictable. Little is known about the duration and variation of the sandgrouse's breeding in Kenya, although it is most likely to breed in the dry season following the long rains. Its reproductive organs are known to increase largely in size during breeding season, despite the scarcity of the breeding patterns.

References:

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Status: Least concern
EX EW CR EN VU NT LC
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassAves
OrderPterocliformes
FamilyPteroclidae
GenusPterocles
SpeciesP. decoratus
Photographed in
Kenya