Pin-tailed Sandgrouse vs Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles alchata compared with Pterocles orientalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Pin-tailed Sandgrouse | Black-bellied Sandgrouse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterocles alchata | Pterocles orientalis |
| Order | Pterocliformes | Pterocliformes |
| Family | Pteroclidae | Pteroclidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.8 cm (15.3 in) | 45.6 cm (18.0 in) |
| Weight | 308.75 g (10.89 oz) | 427.5 g (15.08 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Shared Habitats
Black-bellied Sandgrouse only
None
Song & Call Comparison
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Loud, far-carrying call with resonant quality; powerful notes audible across open arid terrain. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Loud, carrying call with resonant quality; deep notes carrying well across open dry terrain. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
How to Tell Them Apart
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse: males with white and chestnut belly band; pale sandy above; pin-like elongated tail; green-faced; pallid below
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse: males with black belly; sandy-spotted above; chestnut and black neck bands; white flanks; very dimorphic
About These Birds
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse
Pin-tailed Sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata) — 31–39 cm (plus tail pins). Boldly marked; male with chestnut and green breast bands; white belly; long pin-like central tail feathers. Inhabits arid steppe, dry grassland, and cultivation from Spain to Central Asia and Pakistan. Granivore; highly gregarious. Males carry water in belly feathers to chicks.
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) — 32–37 cm. Large; male: chestnut and grey upperparts; black belly; chestnut throat. Inhabits open steppe, semi-desert, and dry farmland from the Canary Islands through the Middle East to Central Asia and northwest India. Granivore; partially migratory. Male belly-soaks to carry water for chicks.