Spotted Sandgrouse (Pterocles senegallus) Science Article 1
abstract
Many species of desert birds are relatively small (< 500 g), diurnally active ground dwellers that are naturally exposed to high ambient temperatures (T,) and low relativehumidities (RH). Sandgrouse (Pteroclididae), being small birds (weighing between 200 and 400 g) having a relatively high standard metabolic rate (SMR), would have to possess an effective mechanism for dissipating heat.
JACOB MARDER, IDIT GAVRIELI-LEVIN AND PNINA RABER, The Condor 88:99-100, 1986