Pterocles coronatus

The Crowned Sandgrouse is classified as Vulnerable (VU) based on its population size (less than 1,000 individuals) and on the rate of decrease in the number of breeding individuals, estimated at more than 20% over two generations (11.2 years). On the other hand, the population in Israel is part of a larger nomadic population, which could provide immigration (“rescue effect”). In the previous edition of the Red Book (2002), it was classified as Endangered (EN). The apparent improvement in the threat category does not reflect a true improvement trend, but rather a slowing down of the decline rate, as well as differences in the quality of data and assessment methods between the two editions.

Habitats	Desert Plains
Presence In Israel	Resident
Breeding In Israel	Breeder
Migration Types	Resident, Nomad
Zoographical Zones	Saharo-Arabian
Landscape Types	Plains & Valleys, Wide Wadis
Vegetation Types	Herbaceous
Vegetation Densities	Low
Nest Locations	Ground
Diet Types	Herbivore
Foraging Grounds	Ground
Body Sizes	Small (up to 500g)
Threat Factors	Unknown

The Crowned Sandgrouse is a relatively small and short-tailed sandgrouse with a sandy brown plumage. The male has an orange throat and cheeks and a thick white-bordered black stripe around its bill on its chin and forehead. The female is densely striped and spotted and its throat and the sides of its head are yellowish. Light underparts and the contrast between its pale wing coverts and black flight feathers are visible in flight. Its call is uneven and reminiscent of a chicken-like chatter.

Resident in the Negev and Arava (south of the Dimona-Yeroham-Tse’elim line). It is nomadic over large areas and numbers vary from year to year depending on the amount of precipitation and food availability. Flocks are smaller compared to other sandgrouse and it inhabits more arid areas. Since the 1980s its numbers are declining, particularly in the northern part of its range.

Stony Hamadas, loess plains and the openings of broad wadis. Crowned Sandgrouse inhabit only arid deserts and are not found in cultivated fields. They fly to watering spots to drink, and therefore require a permanently available water source within several dozen kilometers from their nesting areas.

No specific conservation measures have been taken for this species to date.

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