Alternative names: Persian Ground-Jay; Iranian Ground-Jay; Pleske's Ground-Chough; Pleske's Groundpecker
- Podoces pleskei
Identification
24cm (9½ in). A small, distinctive corvid:
- Warm sandy buff plumage
- Whitish on throat and undertail-coverts
- Black lores, extending as Post-ocular streak
- Black patch at centre of lower throat
- Glossy black tail
- Black and white wings
- Dark brown eye
- Black, slim and slightly decurved bill
Sexes similar, juveniles poorly documented.
Distribution
Endemic to eastern Iran.
Locally numerous but nowhere common.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Forms a species pair with Turkestan Ground-Jay.
Habitat
Steppes and sandy desert plains, particularly where zygophyllum grows. Occurs at 900 - 2000m.
Behaviour
Diet
Feeds in spring mainly on insects. Later in the year takes also grains and seeds. Known to hide food.
Usually seen in pairs or in families of up to 6 birds.
Breeding
The breeding season starts in March. They build a spherical nest, camouflaged by a layer of interwoven twigs, among small shrubs. 3-6 pale blue-green eggs are laid. Only the female incubates, for 17-19 days, and the male feeds her while she is on the nest. The chicks grow fast, two weeks after hatching they are feathered.
Movements
A resident species with some dispersal movements in winter.
Vocalisation
Call: 'pee-pee-pee-pee-pee'
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2009. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553507
- Birdforum Member observations
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Pleske's Ground Jay. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 9 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Pleske%27s_Ground_Jay
