Madagascar Sandgrouse

The Madagascar Sandgrouse is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Madagascar Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus) is a species of bird in the Pteroclididae family. It is endemic to Madagascar. References - 1. ^ BirdLife International (2008). Pterocles personatus. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 2009-04-14. More

This pair of Madagascar Sandgrouse (right) are engaged in such a long-distance flight, well above the ground and set off against a glooming sky. Some of their plumage and musculature is pigeon-like, but in 1867 Thomas Huxley reviewed their skeletons and came to the conclusion they were "perfectly balanced" between grouse and pigeons, and assigned them to their own distinctive order, the "Pteroclomorphae. More

A male and female Madagascar Sandgrouse feeding on seeds at a harvested mustard field Berenty Private Reserve, Madagascar Christian Boix Hin... More

Flufftail, Madagascar Plover, Madagascar Sandgrouse, three species of Owl, both Emutails, Ward's Flycatcher, both Oxylabes and Crossley's Babbler made for an unforgettable trip. Unfortunately over 80% of the country's forest has already been lost and the ever-expanding population will only increase the pressure on the remaining areas. More

Madagascar Sandgrouse, Madagascar, Tulear November 2007 © Andrew Moon Madagascar Sandgrouse - Madagascar Sandgrouse, Madagascar, Tulear November 2007 © Andrew Moon Madagascar Sandgrouse - Showing Records 1 through 4 of 4 Total Records More

the Madagascar sandgrouse is the second largest sandgrouse in the world. The largest: the Tibetan sandgrouse (as everyone knows). At one point in the search for the sandgrouse, a large active conglomeration of cattle egrets was seen. They turned out to be feeding on a dense flock of locusts. It was easy to imagine how devastating a plague of locusts could be, especially with the beetles fresh in mind (not literally). More