Sandgrouse

Sandgrouse
Double-banded sandgrouse
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Columbimorphae
Order: Pterocliformes
Huxley, 1868
Family: Pteroclidae
Bonaparte, 1831
Genera
  • Gerandia Lambrecht, 1933
  • Archaeoganga Mourer-Chauviré, 1992
  • Leptoganga Mourer-Chauviré, 1993
  • Pterocles Temminck, 1815
  • Nyctiperdix Roberts, 1922
  • Calopterocles Roberts, 1922 non Gmelin
  • Syrrhaptes Illiger, 1811
Synonyms
  • Pteroclididae
  • Pterocleidae

The sandgrouse is any one of the sixteen species of a family of ground-dwelling birds known as the Pteroclidae. They usually occur in steppe-like environments, with large open spaces, and few if any trees. They occur mostly in Africa and Asia. Some species also live on the Iberian peninsula, and in France. They mostly eat seeds.