Northern and central Uzbekistan, southern Kazakhstan and northern and central Turkmenistan; also isolated population in eastern Kazakhstan (south of L Balkhash).
Population
Estimated population is unknown (2010).
Pander's Ground Jay (Podoces panderi) [XC465943]
by Oscar Campbell from Peshku District, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan (call)
Pander's Ground Jay (Podoces panderi) [XC479968]
by id from km371.5, A380, Jondor District, Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan (call)
Nest
Spherical, composed of twigs and dried grasses mixed with bush bark and bast, cobweb, plant fuzz, lined with hair and feathers, located in saxual or bushes of Calligonum spp about 0.15 - 2.5 m above the ground.
Eggs (Guide)
Clutch Size: 3 - 6
Color: greenish, speckled
Incubation: 16 - 19 days by female
Young
Fed by both parents.
Fledge: 18 - 20 days
Subspecies
Forms a species pair with Iranian Ground-jay (Podoces pleskei), both differing from other members of genus in lacking black on crown, and in having relatively short uppertail-coverts, pale legs and a blackish breast patch. Birds from Transcaspia described as subspecies transcaspius and those from eastern Kazakhstan (L Balkhash) as ilensis, but effects of bleaching and plumage wear render such forms of questionable validity.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
panderi Fischer von Waldheim, 1821 - Deserts of south-central Asia (Russian Turkestan).
BirdLife International Species Factsheet