Syrrhaptes paradoxus -- (Palllas, 1773)ANIMALIA -- CHORDATA -- AVES -- PTEROCLIFORMES -- PTEROCLIDAECommon names: Pallas's Sandgrouse;

European Red List AssessmentEuropean Red List Status

EN -- Endangered, (IUCN version 3.1)

Assessment InformationYear published: 2015Date assessed: 2015-03-31Assessor(s): BirdLife InternationalReviewer(s): Symes, A.Compiler(s): Ashpole, J., Burfield, I., Ieronymidou, C., Pople, R., Wheatley, H. & Wright, L.Assessment RationaleEuropean regional assessment: Endangered (EN°)EU27 regional assessment: Not Applicable (NA)

This species has a large range across central and eastern Asia with tiny numbers breeding within the region in Russia. The population size within the region meets the threshold for classification as Critically Endangered under the small population criterion, with unknown trend. The species could therefore be listed as Critically Endangered but given the potential for rescue from outside the region the final category is downlisted to Endangered (EN° D).

The bird is considered vagrant in the EU27 and is assessed as Not Applicable (NA) for this region.

OccurrenceCountries/Territories of OccurrenceVagrant:Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Czech Republic; Denmark; Faroe Islands (to DK); Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland, Rep. of; Italy; Latvia; Montenegro; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Romania; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Turkey; United Kingdom

PopulationThe European population is estimated at 0-10 pairs, which equates to 0-20 mature individuals. The species does not occur in the EU27. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

TrendIn Europe the population size trend is unknown. For details of national estimates, see Supplementary PDF.

Habitats and EcologyThis species inhabits steppe and semi-desert, with low, sparse vegetation of grasses or shrubs, as well as fallow land and abandoned fields. It is thought to favour clay to sandy or stony soils and it occurs in flat or hilly terrain and mountain valleys. Egg-laying occurs from mid-April to June and it typically lays three eggs, sometimes two. The nest is set on the ground and is sometimes sheltered by a bush or grasses and is often close to other pairs. It feeds on seeds and also some green shoots of many different plants. The species is partially migratory. Irregular irruptions have taken place in western Europe, notably in 1863, 1888 and 1908 (de Juana and Boesman 2013).Habitats & Altitude

Habitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance OccurrenceArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable breedingArtificial/Terrestrial - Arable Land suitable non-breedingShrubland - Temperate major breeding

Habitats & AltitudeHabitat (level 1 - level 2) Importance Occurrence

Shrubland - Temperate major non-breedingAltitude 1850-3250 m Occasional altitudinal limits

ThreatsThe size of the European population renders it susceptible to the risks affecting small populations; however it is adjacent to a much larger non-European population (BirdLife International 2004).Threats & Impacts

Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and StressesOther options Other threat Timing Scope Severity Impact

Ongoing Unknown Unknown UnknownStresses

Other

ConservationConservation Actions UnderwayBern Convention Appendix II. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species.

Conservation Actions ProposedNo conservation measures are currently needed for this species.

Bibliographyde Juana, E. and Boesman, P. 2013. Pallas's Sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes paradoxus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. and de Juana, E. (eds.) 2013. Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from http://www.hbw.com/node/54082 on 1 April 2015).Snow, D.W. and Perrins, C.M. 1998. The Birds of the Western Palearctic vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Map (see overleaf)