Pallas's Sandgrouse

Syrrhaptes paradoxus

Introduction

Pallas's Sandgrouse has one of the strangest histories of any British bird; several hundred individuals arrived in 1863, 1888 (some of which subsequently bred) and 1908, but it has since been an extremely rare visitor.

This species breeds in semi-desert and steppe habitats from Uzbekistan east to north-west China. Although generally resident in its behaviour, Pallas's Sandgrouse may make occasional irruptive movements.

Key Stats

Status

Very rare

Weight

265g

Seasonality

BTO Records

11 records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

No current data

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

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This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

Species of European Conservation Concern

Extinct in Region

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)

Least Concern

Schedule 1 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

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BOU Category

Source

First Record*

Caernarfon, 1859

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

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Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.

Distribution

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This vagrant has not been recorded in the UK for many decades and as such cannot be mapped.

Distribution Change

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This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Seasonality

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This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Pallas's Sandgrouse movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

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View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

European movements

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EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Pallas's Sandgrouse, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

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Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Pallas's Sandgrouse

Classification and Codes

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Order: Pterocliformes
Family: Pteroclidae
Scientific name: Syrrhaptes paradoxus
Authority: Pallas, 1773

BTO 5-letter code: PALSA
Euring code number: 6630

Alternate species names

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Catalan: ganga estepària
Czech: stepokur kirgizský
Danish: Steppehøne
Dutch: Steppehoen
Estonian: stepivuril
Finnish: arokyyhky
French: Syrrhapte paradoxal

German: Steppenflughuhn
Hungarian: talpastyúk
Icelandic: Steppuspjátra
Irish: Gaineamhchearc Pallas
Italian: Sirratte
Latvian: stepes smilšvistina
Lithuanian: stepine vištele
Norwegian: Steppehøne

Polish: pustynnik (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: ganga-das-estepes
Slovak: labkán stepný
Slovenian: kirgiška sadža
Spanish: Ganga de Pallas
Swedish: stäppflyghöna
Welsh: Iâr Diffeithwch

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.