Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles orientalis
Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) is a member of the Pteroclidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 405 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pterocliformes
- Family Pteroclidae Sandgrouse
- Genus Pterocles
- Species orientalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 405 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) is a species of bird in the Pteroclidae family, part of the order Pterocliformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sw, also n AF.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 405 g, with a wing length of about 22.8 cm and a tail of around 9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Sandgrouse?
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse is a large bird that weighs around 405 g.
Where does the Black-bellied Sandgrouse live?
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sw, also n AF, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Black-bellied Sandgrouse belong to?
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) belongs to the Pteroclidae family, in the order Pterocliformes.
What does the Black-bellied Sandgrouse eat?
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Black-bellied Sandgrouse migrate?
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Black-bellied Sandgrouse endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black-bellied Sandgrouse make?
1 real field recording of the Black-bellied Sandgrouse — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-bellied Sandgrouse's range?
The Black-bellied Sandgrouse has a mapped global range of about 5.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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