Sandgrouse (Pteroclididae)

They primarily target cereal and oilseed crops, including wheat, barley, millet, and sunflower. The damage usually occurs during two specific phases: immediately after sowing, when the birds dig up and eat the seeds, and during the ripening stage, when they forage on the standing crop. Due to their habit of congregating in large numbers, the cumulative impact on yield can be substantial in affected areas.

The biology of sandgrouse is defined by their nomadic behavior, which is driven by the availability of surface water and food resources. They nest on the ground, making their habitat requirements quite broad. Their ability to travel long distances from nesting grounds to foraging areas ensures that they can quickly exploit new agricultural sources, making them unpredictable and difficult to manage once they establish a feeding pattern.

The severity of damage is characterized by patchy depletion of seeds and the trampling of delicate sprouts. In arid regions, their presence is often intensified by a lack of alternative wild seed sources, forcing the birds to rely heavily on farmland. This leads to reduced stand density and potential economic losses, which are compounded by the birds' preference for settling in specific zones repeatedly during the season.

Effective control measures include the deployment of acoustic deterrents that mimic predator calls and visual scare devices such as reflectors or kites. Agronomic strategies, such as deeper sowing techniques to prevent immediate seed access and synchronized harvesting to shorten the exposure time, are vital. Managing water sources near fields can also discourage their settling, although biological control remains limited due to the migratory nature of the birds.