Bird Guide

Black-bellied Sandgrouse vs Namaqua Sandgrouse

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis)

Black-bellied Sandgrouse

Pterocles orientalis

Large405 gGrassland

The black-bellied sandgrouse is 33–39 cm (13–15 in) long and weighs 300–615 g (10.6–21.7 oz), it is likely the largest species in the sandgrouse family. The male has a grey head, neck, and breast. The underparts are black and the upperparts are golden-brown with darker markings. There is a thin black border around the lower breast and a chestnut throat patch. This sandgrouse has a small, pigeon-like head and neck, but a stocky compact body. It has long pointed wings and a fast direct flight. The white underwings and black belly make this species easy to identify while in flight.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: mourad-harzallah · CC BY 4.0
Namaqua Sandgrouse (Pterocles namaqua)

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Pterocles namaqua

Medium177 gDesert

The sandgrouse is a medium-sized bird with a plump body, small head and short legs. It grows to a length of about 28 centimetres (11 in). The male has an orangish buff head, throat and chest delineated by a conspicuous narrow band of white and dark brown. The back and wings are mottled brown with large white specks and there are two long black filaments extending from the olive-brown tail. The colouring of the female and juvenile is more cryptic being generally various shades of brown patterned with white specks.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: derivative work: Snowmanradio (talk) Pterocles_namaqua_-Kalahari-8.jpg: Chris Eason · CC BY 2.0

Learn this pair in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Black-bellied Sandgrouse and Namaqua Sandgrouse.