such a low density unless he correlates it with habitat so dry and arid 
in character that in some areas only sandgrouse and bustards, among 
the game birds, are capable of survival therein. For the area about the 
Zeravshan River neax Samarkand, Siberia, Dement‘ev (15) quotes Dal as 
reporting densities of one bird per 7% acres on arid clay soil, one 
to 20 acres in rocky semi-desert tracts and one to 250 acres on steppes 
sparsely covered with feathergrass (Stipa sp.). 
Description 
The plumage of all sandgrouse harmonizes so well with the arid 
lands which they inhabit that the birds are often rather difficult to 
detect. As with several other Asian species, the general color for 
both sexes of imperial sandgrouse is a blending of buff-gray, brown, 
black, and yellow ochre. On close inspection, the large size, coupled 
with the dark brown to black abdomen, the pointed but not distinctly 
elongated tail, the wings, white on the underside but with black tips, 
and the pale chestnut collar around the neck of the male are identify- 
ing characteristics of the imperial sandgrouse. 

Figure 19. Imperial sandgrouse, wild-trapped in Turkey 
Female 
Male Female 
Female Male 
32 
