Photo: Paul Prior / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Madagascar Sandgrouse
Pterocles personatus
Madagascar Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Africa.
The Madagascar Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus) is a member of the Pteroclidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 181 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 personatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 181 g
- Diet
- Seed-eaters
- Family
- Pteroclidae
- Order
- Pterocliformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Madagascar Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Madagascar Sandgrouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Madagascar Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus) is a member of the Pteroclidae family, within the order Pterocliformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF w, s Madagascar.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 181 g, with a wing length of about 22.3 cm and a tail of around 8 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 264,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Madagascar Sandgrouse?
The Madagascar Sandgrouse is a large bird that weighs around 181 g.
Where does the Madagascar Sandgrouse live?
The Madagascar Sandgrouse is found across Africa with a range covering AF w, s Madagascar, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Madagascar Sandgrouse belong to?
The Madagascar Sandgrouse (Pterocles personatus) belongs to the Pteroclidae family, in the order Pterocliformes.
What does the Madagascar Sandgrouse eat?
The Madagascar Sandgrouse is a granivore — it feeds mainly on seeds and grain.
Does the Madagascar Sandgrouse migrate?
The Madagascar Sandgrouse is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Madagascar 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 Madagascar Sandgrouse make?
1 real field recording of the Madagascar Sandgrouse — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Madagascar Sandgrouse's range?
The Madagascar Sandgrouse has a mapped global range of about 264,000 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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