Photo: Tisha Mukherjee / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles exustus
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Africa.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) is a member of the Pteroclidae family found in Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 203 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 exustus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 203 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Chestnut-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 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) belongs to the Pteroclidae family of the order Pterocliformes. It is found across Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers AF, PAL, OR w AF to India.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 203 g, with a wing length of about 17.5 cm and a tail of around 11 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 9.3 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse?
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse is a large bird that weighs around 203 g.
Where does the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse live?
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse is found across Africa, Europe & Northern Asia and South & Southeast Asia with a range covering AF, PAL, OR w AF to India, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse belong to?
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus) belongs to the Pteroclidae family, in the order Pterocliformes.
What does the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse eat?
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse migrate?
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Chestnut-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 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse make?
1 real field recording of the Chestnut-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 Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse's range?
The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse has a mapped global range of about 9.3 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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