Sand partridge: Difference between revisions
Isobel.kar (talk | contribs) Changed the description and added in a subheading "Sexual Dimorphism" |
Isobel.kar (talk | contribs) Added in Taxonomy, Habitat and Distribution |
||
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
This 22–25 cm [[bird]] is a resident breeder in dry, open and often hilly country. It nests in a scantily lined ground scrape laying 5-7 eggs. The sand partridge takes a wide variety of seeds and some insect food. |
This 22–25 cm [[bird]] is a resident breeder in dry, open and often hilly country. It nests in a scantily lined ground scrape laying 5-7 eggs. The sand partridge takes a wide variety of seeds and some insect food. |
||
== Description<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=McGowan |first=Philip J. K. |last2=Kirwan |first2=Guy M. |date=2020 |title=Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi), version 1.0 |url=https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/sanpar1/cur/introduction |journal=Birds of the World |language=en |doi=10.2173/bow.sanpar1.01species_shared.bow.project_name |issn=2771-3105}}</ref> == |
|||
== Description == |
|||
The sand partridge is a rotund bird, mainly sandy-brown with wavy white and brown flank stripes. It ranges from 22-25 cm in height, and 180-200g in weight. Its wingspan ranges from 39-41 cm. |
The sand partridge is a rotund bird, mainly sandy-brown with wavy white and brown flank stripes. It ranges from 22-25 cm in height, and 180-200g in weight. Its wingspan ranges from 39-41 cm. |
||
When disturbed, sand partridge prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings. The song is a slurred ''kwa-kwa-kwa'' |
When disturbed, sand partridge prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings. The song is a slurred ''kwa-kwa-kwa'' |
||
=== Sexual Dimorphism === |
=== Sexual Dimorphism<ref name=":0" /> === |
||
Males are larger than the females and have orange bills, rather than dull yellowish bills. The male has a grey head with a white stripe in front of the eye and a white cheek patch. The neck sides are plain, and not speckled with white. The head pattern is the best distinction from the see-see partridge. |
Males are larger than the females and have orange bills, rather than dull yellowish bills. The male has a grey head with a white stripe in front of the eye and a white cheek patch. The neck sides are plain, and not speckled with white. The head pattern is the best distinction from the see-see partridge. Females are a very washed-out version of males. They are sandier and greyer than males with fewer markings and have pinkish bars instead of white spots on the side of the neck. Females are more difficult to distinguish from its relative due to the weak head pattern. Male and female juveniles resemble adult females. |
||
== Taxonomy == |
|||
Females are a very washed-out version of males. They are sandier and greyer than males with fewer markings and have pinkish bars instead of white spots on the side of the neck. Females are more difficult to distinguish from its relative due to the weak head pattern. |
|||
The sand partridge is one of 185 species in the ground-living family [[Phasianidae]], the most-species rich clade in the [[Galliformes]] order<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=De |last2=Hosner |first2=Peter A. |last3=Dittmann |first3=Donna L. |last4=O’Neill |first4=John P. |last5=Birks |first5=Sharon M. |last6=Braun |first6=Edward L. |last7=Kimball |first7=Rebecca T. |date=2021-11-22 |title=Divergence time estimation of Galliformes based on the best gene shopping scheme of ultraconserved elements |url=https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01935-1 |journal=BMC Ecology and Evolution |language=en |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=209 |doi=10.1186/s12862-021-01935-1 |issn=2730-7182 |pmc=PMC8609756 |pmid=34809586}}</ref>. The Phasianidae family has a subfamily [[Phasianinae]], which was considered [[monophyletic]] up until the 1990s until [[molecular phylogenies]] showed that its placement is indeed [[paraphyletic]]. The Phasianinae subfamily has two acknowledged clades: the erectile clade and the non-erectile clade (an erectile trait is a feathery or fleshy region on the head that some birds possess. It mainly evolved as a sexual signal)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kimball |first=Rebecca T. |last2=Braun |first2=Edward L. |date=2008 |title=A Multigene Phylogeny of Galliformes Supports a Single Origin of Erectile Ability in Non-Feathered Facial Traits |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/30244464 |journal=Journal of Avian Biology |volume=39 |issue=4 |pages=438–445 |issn=0908-8857}}</ref>. The sand partridge is part of the non-erectile clade, as they do not possess an erectile trait. These two clades are believed to have diverged during the early [[Oligocene]], around 30 million years ago<ref>{{Cite web |title=Galliformes |url=http://www.bird-phylogeny.de/superorders/galloanserae/galliformes/ |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=bird-phylogeny |language=de-DE}}</ref>. |
|||
== Habitat and Distribution == |
|||
Male and female juveniles resemble adult females. |
|||
=== Distribution === |
|||
Sand partridges are endemic across the [[Middle East]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Sand Partridge - eBird |url=https://ebird.org/species/sanpar1 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=ebird.org |language=en}}</ref>. Populations are distributed across Eastern [[Egypt]], Eastern [[Sudan]], [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Yemen]], [[Oman]], and the [[United Arab Emirates]] (UAE)<ref name=":1" />. The four subspecies of the sand partridge are native to specific parts of the Middle East. The ''Ammoperdix heyi heyi'' is distributed from the [[Jordan Valley]] to the Egyptian [[Sinai Peninsula]] to Saudi Arabia<ref name=":0" />. The ''Ammopredix heyi nicolli'' is distributed across Northern Egypt<ref name=":0" />. The ''Ammoperdix heyo cholmleyi'' is distributed from Egypt to Northern Sudan<ref name=":0" />. The ''Ammoperdix heyi intermedius'' is distributed from Western Saudi Arabia to Yemen east into Oman and to the [[Musandam Peninsula]] in UAE<ref name=":0" />. |
|||
=== Habitat === |
|||
Sand partridges can be found in desert ecosystems with scattered vegetation and boulders<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Wronski |first=Torsten |date=2009 |title=Habitat preference and diurnal activity pattern in the Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi heyi: (Aves: Phasianidae) |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09397140.2009.10638364 |journal=Zoology in the Middle East |language=en |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=35–42 |doi=10.1080/09397140.2009.10638364 |issn=0939-7140}}</ref>. They prefer steep, boulder-strewn slopes with sandy-bottomed [[Wadi|wadis]] and ridges up to 2000 m and valleys down to 400 m below sea level<ref name=":0" />. Sand partridges are rarely found in large stretches of dry, flat, or open desert as they require a water source for drinking<ref name=":0" />. The sand partridge is non-migratory, so it breeds and spends its year in these habitats<ref name=":0" />. |
|||
==References== |
==References== |
||
Revision as of 01:25, 3 October 2023
| Sand partridge | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Galliformes |
| Family: | Phasianidae |
| Genus: | Ammoperdix |
| Species: | A. heyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ammoperdix heyi (Temminck, 1825)
| |
The sand partridge (Ammoperdix heyi) is a gamebird in the pheasant family Phasianidae of the order Galliformes, gallinaceous birds.
This partridge has its main native range from Egypt and Israel east to south Arabia. It is closely related and similar to its counterpart in southeast Turkey and east to Pakistan, the see-see partridge, Ammoperdix griseogularis.
This 22–25 cm bird is a resident breeder in dry, open and often hilly country. It nests in a scantily lined ground scrape laying 5-7 eggs. The sand partridge takes a wide variety of seeds and some insect food.
Description[2]
The sand partridge is a rotund bird, mainly sandy-brown with wavy white and brown flank stripes. It ranges from 22-25 cm in height, and 180-200g in weight. Its wingspan ranges from 39-41 cm.
When disturbed, sand partridge prefers to run rather than fly, but if necessary it flies a short distance on rounded wings. The song is a slurred kwa-kwa-kwa
Sexual Dimorphism[2]
Males are larger than the females and have orange bills, rather than dull yellowish bills. The male has a grey head with a white stripe in front of the eye and a white cheek patch. The neck sides are plain, and not speckled with white. The head pattern is the best distinction from the see-see partridge. Females are a very washed-out version of males. They are sandier and greyer than males with fewer markings and have pinkish bars instead of white spots on the side of the neck. Females are more difficult to distinguish from its relative due to the weak head pattern. Male and female juveniles resemble adult females.
Taxonomy
The sand partridge is one of 185 species in the ground-living family Phasianidae, the most-species rich clade in the Galliformes order[3]. The Phasianidae family has a subfamily Phasianinae, which was considered monophyletic up until the 1990s until molecular phylogenies showed that its placement is indeed paraphyletic. The Phasianinae subfamily has two acknowledged clades: the erectile clade and the non-erectile clade (an erectile trait is a feathery or fleshy region on the head that some birds possess. It mainly evolved as a sexual signal)[4]. The sand partridge is part of the non-erectile clade, as they do not possess an erectile trait. These two clades are believed to have diverged during the early Oligocene, around 30 million years ago[5].
Habitat and Distribution
Distribution
Sand partridges are endemic across the Middle East[6]. Populations are distributed across Eastern Egypt, Eastern Sudan, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)[6]. The four subspecies of the sand partridge are native to specific parts of the Middle East. The Ammoperdix heyi heyi is distributed from the Jordan Valley to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula to Saudi Arabia[2]. The Ammopredix heyi nicolli is distributed across Northern Egypt[2]. The Ammoperdix heyo cholmleyi is distributed from Egypt to Northern Sudan[2]. The Ammoperdix heyi intermedius is distributed from Western Saudi Arabia to Yemen east into Oman and to the Musandam Peninsula in UAE[2].
Habitat
Sand partridges can be found in desert ecosystems with scattered vegetation and boulders[2][7]. They prefer steep, boulder-strewn slopes with sandy-bottomed wadis and ridges up to 2000 m and valleys down to 400 m below sea level[2]. Sand partridges are rarely found in large stretches of dry, flat, or open desert as they require a water source for drinking[2]. The sand partridge is non-migratory, so it breeds and spends its year in these habitats[2].
References
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Ammoperdix heyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22678657A92783316. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22678657A92783316.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j McGowan, Philip J. K.; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Sand Partridge (Ammoperdix heyi), version 1.0". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.sanpar1.01species_shared.bow.project_name. ISSN 2771-3105.
- ^ Chen, De; Hosner, Peter A.; Dittmann, Donna L.; O’Neill, John P.; Birks, Sharon M.; Braun, Edward L.; Kimball, Rebecca T. (2021-11-22). "Divergence time estimation of Galliformes based on the best gene shopping scheme of ultraconserved elements". BMC Ecology and Evolution. 21 (1): 209. doi:10.1186/s12862-021-01935-1. ISSN 2730-7182. PMC 8609756. PMID 34809586.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ^ Kimball, Rebecca T.; Braun, Edward L. (2008). "A Multigene Phylogeny of Galliformes Supports a Single Origin of Erectile Ability in Non-Feathered Facial Traits". Journal of Avian Biology. 39 (4): 438–445. ISSN 0908-8857.
- ^ "Galliformes". bird-phylogeny (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ a b "Sand Partridge - eBird". ebird.org. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ Wronski, Torsten (2009). "Habitat preference and diurnal activity pattern in the Sand Partridge, Ammoperdix heyi heyi: (Aves: Phasianidae)". Zoology in the Middle East. 48 (1): 35–42. doi:10.1080/09397140.2009.10638364. ISSN 0939-7140.
- Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse by Madge and McGowan, ISBN 0-7136-3966-0
.png){kind=small} | This Galliformes article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |