Double-banded Sandgrouse

About the Double-banded Sandgrouse

The double-banded sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus) is a species of predominantly terrestrial, or ground-dwelling (though not flightless), bird in the family Pteroclidae. It is found in arid parts of southern Africa. There are three subspecies: P. b. ansorgei is found in the southwest of Angola; P. b. bicinctus is found in Namibia, Botswana and the northwest of Cape Province, South Africa; P. b. multicolor is found in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Transvaal. These sandgrouse have been observed in and around the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

A moderately-sized, quail-like bird with a plump body, the double-banded sandgrouse has a small, almost pigeon-like head with a long pair of wings and tail. The general colour of the plumage is light brown, with darker mottling and rows of whitish specks; the male is distinguished by having a conspicuous black-and-white band on his forehead, with a chestnut-coloured throat that is delineated by another black-and-white band. Both sexes have an area of bare, yellow skin surrounding their eyeball, and the male has an orange beak. The female is smaller and a more dull-brown in colour. The juveniles resemble the female... Wikipedia →