Wariness 
Under normal field circumstances, common sandgrouse is an alert 
bird and flies quickly at the first sign of danger. When the birds are 
on their feeding, roosting and loafing grounds, in open desert country, 
a hunter on foot would find it very difficult to successfully bring them 
to bag. Like many animals, sandgrouse do not appreciate the dangers of 
a car. Hunters in India often drive across the open desert plains and 
shoot these birds from a vehicle. The daily and almost precise watering 
habits of sandgrouse leave them vulnerable on a second front. These birds 
apparently need to water daily, especially during the hot summer months. 
During this period of the year they will come to water regularly despite 
shooting or other disturbances. If the birds are disturbed for a prolonged 
period over several days, they will then move to another watering area, 
often a considerable distance away. 
Resting and Roosting 
Common sandgrouse have been seen resting in the shade of small 
shrubs during mid-day when the weather was hot and dry. They roost on 
the ground on the desert plains and no direct observations were made in 
regard to their utilization of brush or scattered grasses and forbs as 
cover. The impression gained during night observation suggested that 
they preferred to roost in very open country with a minimum of cover. 
When startled these birds flush almost vertically upwards, and this 
flight would, of course, be hindered by overhead vegetation or shelter. 
Nesting and Renesting 
The common Indian sandgrouse nests in open desert country and fallow 
fields with sparse stubble. The nest is simply a scratched out depression 
in the earth without a lining. No attempt is made to hide the nest, and 
it is usually in the open without cover of any type. Observations in the 
Thar Desert showed that the primary nesting period was from February to 
April, Three-quarters grown birds were trapped in each of these months 
indicating that the sandgrouse also nested in November, December and 
possibly January. Therefore the possibilities of renesting, and perhaps 
even of producing two broods a year, exist. 
Eggs 
Three eggs per nest appear to be the general rule. Baker (3) de- 
scribes the eggs as "pale grey-stone or yellowish-stone with numerous 
small blotches and spots of various shades of brown profusely scattered 
over the whole surface and with secondary markings of lavender and grey." 
Measurements of 200 eggs, as noted by Baker showed an average of 36.8 x 
26.2 mm. 
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