Mongolian Ground Jay Podoces hendersoni, also known as Henderson’s Ground Jay, is resident Xinjiang south of Altai Mountains and north of Tianshan and east into northeast Qinghai, northern Gansu, western Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia. Range also covers most of western Mongolia. HABITAT & BEHAVIOR Flat, open terrain in deserts and semi-deserts with scattered bushes, between 1000–3500 m (3,280–11,480 ft.). Swaggers across desert floor, using long, decurved bill to dig for beetles; also eats carrion (roadkill) and seeds. Fast runner. Prefers not to fly but will do so when alarmed. Also perches on bushes, swooping down when prey is spotted. ID & COMPARISON Glossy blue-black from center of crown to nape. Rest of head, underparts, and upperparts buffy brown, lightest on throat and undertail coverts, and grading to brown on scapulars, rump, and uppertail coverts. Wings glossy blue-black with white patch on primaries. Tail also glossy blue-black, but partly covered by unusually long uppertail coverts. Xinjiang Ground Jay P. biddulphi has blackish chin, malar area, and throat, a mostly white tail, and a thinner, longer bill. BARE PARTS Bill, feet black. VOICE Harsh whistles and clacking like a wooden rattle. — Craig Brelsford
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Daniel Bengtsson served as chief ornithological consultant for Craig Brelsford’s Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of China, from which this species description is drawn.
