| Mongolian ground jay | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Corvidae |
| Genus: | Podoces |
| Species: | P. hendersoni |
| Binomial name | |
| Podoces hendersoni Hume, 1871 | |
TheMongolian ground jay (Podoces hendersoni) orHenderson's ground jay, is a species ofbird in the familyCorvidae.
The bird is light tan with iridescent blue on its primary feathers. It has a long, curved beak and a black stripe on its forehead.
It is found in arid areas of Central Asia (Mongolia, northernChina and adjacent areas ofRussia andKazakhstan). It is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation.[2] It tends to live on areas with gravel surfaces.[3]
Eggs are typically laid and hatched in April-May. They nest inPrunus pedunculata. Females spend more time foraging and the males spend more time brooding the chicks at the start of the nesting period.[2]
They are most active in the morning.[2]
Among ground jays, they have a relatively short trill call.[4]
The main diet of the nestling Mongolian ground jay consists ofcommon lizards,toad-headed agama, andinvertebrates. It is proposed that Mongolian ground jays feed their chicks based on the availability of their food rather than in relation to the stage of the chicks development. They spend more time foraging at warmer temperatures.[2]
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