Yellow-throated Sandgrouse
Pterocles gutturalis
A dumpy, short-legged, pigeon-like bird that shuffles awkwardly on the ground and flies in a fast and direct manner. Larger than other African sandgrouse, it has a distinctive black-bordered yellow throat in the male, and heavy mottling and a plain face in the female. Pairs or small groups prefer grasslands, open savanna, and farmlands at middle altitudes, avoiding semi-desert and desert areas. They fly less frequently than other sandgrouse and are often detected by their distinctive call, a croaky, guttural “ke-rek ke-korr-ow”.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pterocles gutturalis
- Authority
- Smith, A, 1836
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Genus
- Pterocles
Range and habitat
It is found in Angola, Botswana, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Snowcap
Microchera albocoronata
Tiny hummingbird; male is unique and beautiful: his body is the color of red wine, and he has a bright white cap. Unmistakable in limited range. Female is less striking, but note small size, snowy white underparts, and short straight bill. Most often seen feeding at small purple flowers in gardens and forest edges
Hardhead
Aythya australis
Chocolate brown diving duck with white rump and large white panels in the wings. Male has white eyes. Female is slightly paler with dusky eyes. Similar to Musk and Blue-billed Ducks, but Hardhead sits higher in the water, has a white patch on the rump, and lacks a spiky tail.
Crested Francolin
Ortygornis sephaena
A medium-sized buff-brown francolin with an occasionally-raised bushy crest. There is a broad “string-of-pearls” collar around the white throat. It frequents savanna and riverine forest. Heralds the dawn and dusk with a repeated, rapid, cheery “cheer kirk-kik” call usually given as a synchronized duet between a pair. Walks confidently with a cocked tail, giving it a chicken’s gait.
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