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”.
Identification
The yellow-throated sandgrouse (Pterocles gutturalis) is a bird species of the family Pteroclidae. The species common name is derived from the male's distinctive yellow throat. It is found in arid and semi-arid environments and inhabits regions distributed across 10 different African countries. Two subspecies are accepted, P. g. saturatior and P. g. gutturalis. The yellow-throated sandgrouse is listed as Near Threatened in the South African regional assessment but regarded as Least Concerned globally.
Taxonomy
Genus: Pterocles; Family: Pteroclidae; Order: Pterocliformes.
- 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
Behavior
Migration pattern: Complete migrants.
Conservation
Population trend: declining.
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
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