Pin-tailed Sandgrouse – Pterocles alchata
Sandgrouse are often termed water-carriers, in reference to the tribesmen and women who journey across the desert with a water-pot balanced on their head, and indeed sandgrouse do travel up to 80km for water if they have to, though 20-30km is more usual. But it’s what they, the males at least, do when they get there that really justifies the comparison.
Newly-hatched chicks can’t possibly make the trip to the nearest watering hole and so, after rubbing his belly in the dry earth to remove waterproofing preen oil, the male wades into the water belly-deep, holding his wings and tail clear, and allows his feathers to become drenched. Then, upon returning to the nest, he adopts an erect ‘watering posture’ and the young drink by running their bills through the soaked feathers. He is able to do this, and may do so until they are two months old, due to specially adapted plumage running down the centre of his belly that facilitates the sponge-like retention of relatively large amounts of water.
Even during breeding, flocks up to a thousand strong call out in flight, inviting others to join them on their habitual - usually morning - pilgrimage to drink. But flocking, although obviously conferring an advantage upon an individual with regards to being targeted, does attract predators and falcons soon learn where to pick up an easy meal.
Irrigation, intensive agriculture, the over-grazing of dry grasslands and even hunting pose more of a threat however and recent times have seen a severe contraction of suitable habitat in Europe. So much so that their long-term future as a European breeder, like the pot on top of the water-carrier’s head, is surely in the balance.
Fantastic feathers:
Although their skeletal structure belies an ancient ancestral connection to pigeons, molecular analysis has revealed evidence that sandgrouse are actually more closely related to shorebirds (waders).
Another special adaptation in their plumage is a dense undercoat covering the entire body (most birds have distinct lines of feathers separated by bare skin) which insulates them against temperature extremes and enables them to float!
And still more specially adapted feathers grow at the base of the bill to protect the nostrils from wind-blown sand.
Other similar posts:
Osprey - Armchair Book of the Birds of Europe
Penduline Tit - Armchair Book of the Birds of Europe
Collared Dove - ABBE
Links may be at the bottom of this page.
Sandgrouse are often termed water-carriers, in reference to the tribesmen and women who journey across the desert with a water-pot balanced on their head, and indeed sandgrouse do travel up to 80km for water if they have to, though 20-30km is more usual. But it’s what they, the males at least, do when they get there that really justifies the comparison.
Newly-hatched chicks can’t possibly make the trip to the nearest watering hole and so, after rubbing his belly in the dry earth to remove waterproofing preen oil, the male wades into the water belly-deep, holding his wings and tail clear, and allows his feathers to become drenched. Then, upon returning to the nest, he adopts an erect ‘watering posture’ and the young drink by running their bills through the soaked feathers. He is able to do this, and may do so until they are two months old, due to specially adapted plumage running down the centre of his belly that facilitates the sponge-like retention of relatively large amounts of water.
Even during breeding, flocks up to a thousand strong call out in flight, inviting others to join them on their habitual - usually morning - pilgrimage to drink. But flocking, although obviously conferring an advantage upon an individual with regards to being targeted, does attract predators and falcons soon learn where to pick up an easy meal.
Irrigation, intensive agriculture, the over-grazing of dry grasslands and even hunting pose more of a threat however and recent times have seen a severe contraction of suitable habitat in Europe. So much so that their long-term future as a European breeder, like the pot on top of the water-carrier’s head, is surely in the balance.
Fantastic feathers:
Although their skeletal structure belies an ancient ancestral connection to pigeons, molecular analysis has revealed evidence that sandgrouse are actually more closely related to shorebirds (waders).
Another special adaptation in their plumage is a dense undercoat covering the entire body (most birds have distinct lines of feathers separated by bare skin) which insulates them against temperature extremes and enables them to float!
And still more specially adapted feathers grow at the base of the bill to protect the nostrils from wind-blown sand.
Other similar posts:
Osprey - Armchair Book of the Birds of Europe
Penduline Tit - Armchair Book of the Birds of Europe
Collared Dove - ABBE
Links may be at the bottom of this page.
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