| י146) חוגלת סלעים | ||||||||||
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:חוגלת הסלעים . Alectoris gracca דומה מאוד לחוגלה היוונית , נבדלת ממנה בכתם השחור שבין למקור והעין, הקטן יותר . גרונה מוכתם באפור והפסים לצידי הגוף מעטים וגדולים יותר , בית גידולה מדרונות סלעיים מכוסים עשב נמוך . באזורים יבשים או יבשים למחצה . בארץ יציבה ברוב חלקי הארץ . העוף אינו נזכר במקרא אך אנשים או מקומות הנושאים את שמה נזכרים .... ועלה הגבול בית חגלה... יהושע ט"ו 6 . | ||||||||||
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Subspecies and Distribution.
A. c. cypriotes Bulgaria to Syria, Crete, Rhodes and Cyprus A. c. sinaica N Syrian Desert to Sinai Peninsula. A. c. kurdestanica Caucasus to Iran A. c. werae Iraq and S W Iran. A. c. koroviakovi E Iran to Pakistan A. c. subpallida Tadjikistan. A. c. falki Kazakhstan to N C Afganistan and China A. c. dzungarica N W Mongolia and Tibet. A. c. pallescens N E Afghanistan through India to Tibet A. c. pallida N W China. A. c. fallax N W China A. c. chukar Afghanistan to Nepal. A. c. pubescens China from Qinghai through inner Mongolia A. c. potanini W Mongolia. םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם םםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםםם | ||||||||||
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Descriptive notes.
30-39 cm, 450-800 g wingspan 45-50 cm. Very difficult to separate from than A. graeca, slight differences in extent of black pattern on head, upper breast and flank feathers. Upperparts generally browner, less bluish grey Female slightly smaller than male, with duller head pattern and no tarsal knob. Juvenile even smaller than female, with head and flank patterns scarcely appreciable. Races mainly separated on coloration, those of more humid areas darker and more olive above, richer buff below. Those of more arid areas paler and greyer above, paler yellow below. Habitat. Usually semi-arid and arid areas, from sea-level plains to mountains, from dry valleys and near cultivation to bare stony slopes with short grass. Food and Feeding. Bulbous roots, grain and shoots of grass and cereals and insects. During periods of high rainfall, grass seeds dominate diet, and during hard winters birds dig extensively for bulbs and rhizomes. Breeding Apr-May in Mediterranean. In S Asia, Apr-Jul according to altitude. Most nesting Apr-May, usually monogamous, bigamy occasionally reported in USA. Nest is scrape sometimes lined with grass, leaves, etc, under shelter, such as overhanging grass or bush. 7-12 eggs, incubation 22-25 days. Chicks have cream and brown down above, paler below. Movements. Descends in winter from upper altitudes. In morning birds work their way uphill foraging. Strong, fast flier, but only over short distances, if pressed will fly downhill. Status and Conservation. Not globally threatened. Very widely distributed. Israel. In Israel two subspecies A. c. sinaica and. A. c. cypriotes. Very common resident over all the country. |
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