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Birds
Burchell's sandgrouse
Burchell's sandgrouse · Pterocles burchelli
Burchell's sandgrouse captivate with their fast flight, sandy-coloured plumage and fascinating early-morning waterhole sightings.
Fact file
- Size
- About 25 to 28 cm long, 180 to 250 g in weight
- Males and females
- Male with black throat band and longer tail feathers
- Sounds
- Gentle, rhythmic cooing, especially in flight
- Diet
- Seeds, small plant parts, occasionally insects
- Offspring
- Lays 2–3 eggs in simple hollows in the sand, both parents incubate
How to identify Burchell's sandgrouse
At first glance Burchell's sandgrouse look a bit like pigeons, but their plumage is clearly adapted to the desert: warm sandy tones with dark, drop-shaped spots on the back and wings. Their breast shows a pale to orange hue, while the belly remains light. Their sturdy, stocky build looks close to the ground and compact.
Adult Burchell's sandgrouse reach a body length of about 25 to 28 centimetres and weigh 180 to 250 grams. Typical features are the strikingly long, pointed wings that appear arrow-shaped in flight. Males have a distinctive black throat band as well as longer tail feathers. The small, dark bills and strong legs are well suited to life in open, sandy terrain.
More in the app
With Wildful Stories+ you also get in the app:
- general viewing tips
- 4 places where you can see Burchell's sandgrouse
Where Burchell's sandgrouse live
Botswana
Namibia
South Africa
Discover Burchell's sandgrouse on your trip.
The app shows you where and when to see wildlife along your route.
