Burchell's Sandgrouse
A species of Sandgrouse Scientific name : Pterocles burchelli Genus : Sandgrouse
Burchell's Sandgrouse, A species of Sandgrouse
Botanical name: Pterocles burchelli
Genus: Sandgrouse
Content
Description General Info
Photo By Francesco Veronesi , used under CC-BY-SA-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
Burchell's sandgrouse is a plump bird about the size of a pigeon with a small head and short legs. The body is light brown, mottled with darker shades and white speckles. In males, the eye is surrounded by bare yellow skin and the cheeks and throat are pale grey. The male grows to about 25 cm (10 in) long and the female is a little smaller. 
Size
25 cm
Feeding Habits
Burchell's Sandgrouse primarily sustains on seeds, specifically favoring those of the Lophiocarpus burchelli plant in the Kalahari. They drink water during a distinct morning ritual, typically 2 to 4 hours after sunrise.
Habitat
The burchell's Sandgrouse inhabits open, semi-arid and short-grass plains generally associated with broader acacia-dominated scrublands and rough grass regions. This species shows a preference for sandy environments, such as the red sands characteristic of the Kalahari ecosystem. Their distribution is less desert-focused compared to similar species, with their movements partly influenced by the accessibility of water and food resources. The establishment of boreholes by humans has facilitated an extension of their range across their preferred habitats.
Dite type
Granivorous
General Info
Distribution Area
Burchell's sandgrouse is found in Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. It is normally resident but moves about to a limited extent depending on the availability of water and the seeds it mainly eats. It is widespread and common in much of its range. It frequents areas of rough grass and scrub, especially on red Kalahari sand and has been able to extend its range because of the greater availability of water after the sinking of boreholes by farmers.
Species Status
Not globally threatened.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Sandgrouse Family
Sandgrouse Genus
Sandgrouse Species
Burchell's Sandgrouse 
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