Brooding and Rearing 
It is suspected that both sexes incubate. Young sandgrouse are 
precocious and leave the nest shortly after hatching. The common sand- 
grouse often wades into water or actually lands in water when drinking 
and gets its belly feathers wet. This practice resulted in considerable 
speculation that the purpose is to transfer water back to the nest for 
cooling the eggs or watering the young. Meinertzhagen (26) presents a 
much more logical means of watering the young as follows: "Between 1895 
and 1897 I kept several pairs in a large aviary in Hampshire, where they 
bred for two years in succession; water was taken to chicks in the crop, 
whence it was regurgitated, and though the belly was often wet there 
was no sign of chicks taking water from the abdominal feathers," 
Gregariousness 
The common Indian sandgrouse is gregarious and is normally seen in 
flocks of from 5 to 40 or more birds. Unusual circumstances, such as 
restrieted watering sites, will cause hundreds or even thousands of 
birds to congregate in large flocks. 
Calls 
While flying, the common sandgrouse will constantly emit a "cluck- 
cluck" which can be heard for some distance and is helpful in locating 
the birds. 
Predation 
Predators are numerous throughout sandgrouse habitat. Although 
ground predation may take place, no records are available. Several 
instances of falcons taking sandgrouse at waterholes have been witnessed. 
Predation in India seems to be a normal, inimical factor to which the 
sandgrouse populations have adjusted. 
Reproductive Capacity 
The reproductive characteristics of the common sandgrouse strongly 
resemble those of pigeons and doves. A brief resume of the major breeding 
factors is: 
Breeding age -- Common Indian sandgrouse breed the first year 
following hatching. 
Number of eggs -- Normally 3. 
Brood survival -- No definite information available. It appears to 
be good, 
18 
