#pterocles exustus

[bird-of-the-day]

BOTD: Chestnut-Bellied Sandgrouse

^Image credit: Hari K Patibanda

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)

Although they live in hot, arid climates, these birds are heavily reliant on water, known to fly up to 50 miles (80 kilometres) a day in search of water, typically going to water once a day at sunrise. They are rarely kept in captivity due to their high mortality rate in captive conditions, usually due to stress.

[birdblues]

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

[cool-critters]

Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)

The chestnut-bellied sandgrouse is a species of sandgrouse. It is a sedentary and nomadic species that ranges from northern and central Africa and further east towards western and southern Asia. The chestnut-bellied sandgrouse is sexually dimorphic in plumage colouration. The chestnut-bellied sandgrouse is a bird of barren, semi-deserts. It is heavily reliant on water, despite living in hot, arid climates and is known to travel up to 80 km in a day to search for water. Chestnut-bellied sandgrouse are selective feeders which primarily subsist on seeds, often preferring to consume small seeds in large amounts.

photo credits: rainbirder, Arun Thangaraj,Seshadri.K.S

[funnywildlife]

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse by Rainbirder on Flickr.

Tsavo, Kenya

[lotsofbirds]

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus)

Distribution: Africa and Asia

IUCN Status: Least Concern

{ Ecology } { Vocalizations } { eBird }

(Photo by Tarique Sani // CC 2.0)

[deboracpq-blog-blog]

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse female by Rainbirder on Flickr.