India GO
Bird · Pterocles indicus
Painted sandgrouse
IUCN LC · Least concern
A compact, beautifully barred ground bird of stony scrub. Males carry a black-and-white band across the forehead and heavy chestnut barring below.
How to recognise it
Almost invisible until it moves. Pairs and small groups come to water in the last light of the day, which is the practical way to see them.
Where to see it
Hampi
Male sandgrouse soak their breast feathers at a waterhole and fly the water back to their chicks, a behaviour unique to this family.
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary (in season)