Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles exustus), male
Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Male

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse

Pterocles exustus

The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, or Pterocles exustus, presents a captivating sight with its small to medium stature and elongated, pointed tail in flight. On the ground, its short legs and small head are noticeable, and it extends its neck when alert. This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males and females sporting distinct plumage.

Identification Tips

In flight, the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse reveals its isabelline-grey/brown upper parts and elongated tail. Grounded, the male's plumage is a tapestry of dull yellow-ochre, orange-buff, and vinous-buff, with a striking black band bordered by white. The female, on the other hand, is adorned with dull-buff streaks and dark brown markings, with a vinous neck and black-spotted breast.

Habitat

This bird favors the barren semi-deserts, thriving in arid climates yet remaining heavily reliant on water sources.

Distribution

The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse spans across northern and central Africa, reaching into western and southern Asia. It is found in various subspecies across this range, each with subtle variations in plumage.

Behaviour

The species is generally sedentary, with some local movements in search of water and food. It is known for its remarkable daily treks to water sources, sometimes covering up to 50 miles.

Diet and Feeding

A selective feeder, the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse primarily consumes seeds, particularly favoring those of leguminous plants. Despite living in dry environments, it drinks water daily, often congregating in large numbers at waterholes.

Breeding

The species reaches sexual maturity after one year. Males display fresh plumage and elongated tail feathers during the breeding season. Nests are simple ground scrapes, often in the open, with typically three eggs laid. Chicks are precocious and leave the nest shortly after hatching.

Predators and Threats

While resilient against diseases and not prone to common poultry ailments, the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse can fall prey to raptors such as falcons, especially near waterholes.

Conservation status

The IUCN lists the Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant immediate threats to its survival.

Similar Species

The Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse can be distinguished from other sandgrouse species by its unique coloration and habitat preferences. Its sexual dimorphism also aids in identification.

Relationship with humans

The species has been introduced in various locations, such as Hawaii and Japan, for potential use as a game bird. However, these introductions have had mixed success, with some birds migrating away from release sites. In captivity, the species is not commonly kept, partly due to the challenges in managing their flightiness and social stress.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse on Birda

Photos
Sightings

More Sandgrouse

A photo of a Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) , male

Pin-tailed Sandgrouse

Pterocles alchata
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Carrie
Makes you want to spot birds more
I think this app is fun. It makes you want to spot birds more so I guess in a way it encourages you to get out and about instead of sitting in front of the TV.
Foxgirl100
Great app for beginner twitchers
I’ve had a passion of photographing birds for a long time now but have only just gotten into proper birdwatching, and this app is brilliant for those just getting started. There is a great sense of community among users and the app is very easy to use and professional. Awesome app altogether
Marlster24
Recommend for any bird watcher
Very wholesome app: I joined this app with a new interest in watching birds to help me find out what I was spotting. The community is very active in helping identify birds which is great and everyone is very kind so it’s just a nice wholesome community. I would definitely recommend this for any bird spotter 😃
Hip An
Fantastic
Really enjoying Birda where I live i have a lot of Red kites really hard to photograph but I can video are you planning some place on the app where us Birda can post vids🦉🦅
Madstherangers
A mordern game changer
Birda is an awesome app, its updated the world of birding to the modern day with a fun and easy to use app. It’s engaging and allows positive interaction with fellow bird lovers!
778
Great bird recording
For a while I’ve been trying to find an app to easily record bird lists and day out and struggled to find one that I like. Birda is great for this, straightforward and a great community!
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Viperray5
Loving it
I really enjoy being able to interact with other birders on this platform! This seems like a great way to meet other birders and find some new spots.
EandB17
Terrific App for Birders
Downloaded Birda around the time my interest in birding was sparked, and it has been a terrific app to help me (1) share my experience, (2) document my sightings, and (3) learn more about birds in general. That said, I also believe Birda is a fantastic app for birders of all experience levels. Great community!
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.