Crowned Sandgrouse vs Black-faced Sandgrouse
Pterocles coronatus compared with Pterocles decoratus
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Crowned Sandgrouse | Black-faced Sandgrouse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterocles coronatus | Pterocles decoratus |
| Order | Pterocliformes | Pterocliformes |
| Family | Pteroclidae | Pteroclidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 38.4 cm (15.1 in) | 32.2 cm (12.7 in) |
| Weight | 280.0 g (9.88 oz) | 180.83333333333334 g (6.38 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 3 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Crowned Sandgrouse
Loud, melodious crowning call; distinctive resonant notes carrying across North African dry open landscape.
Black-faced Sandgrouse
Loud, carrying call with resonant quality; deep notes carrying well across dry open terrain. Vocalization pattern typical of this species in its native habitat.
Conservation Status
Crowned Sandgrouse
Black-faced Sandgrouse
How to Tell Them Apart
Crowned Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse: pale sandy-cream; pinkish-orange crown; black facial markings; white belly; sandy above; African-Arabian desert
Black-faced Sandgrouse
Black-faced Sandgrouse: males with black-white face pattern; sandy-brown above; chestnut belly band; dimorphic; East African species
About These Birds
Crowned Sandgrouse
Crowned Sandgrouse (Pterocles coronatus) — 26–30 cm. Pale sandy with fine markings; male with orange face and black-and-white forehead pattern; short tail. Inhabits stony and rocky desert from the Sahara through the Middle East to Pakistan. Granivore; highly cryptic against rock and gravel. Drinks at dawn.
Black-faced Sandgrouse
Black-faced Sandgrouse (Pterocles decoratus) — 24–28 cm. Brown and buff barred pattern; male with distinctive black-and-white facial mask; short tail. Inhabits dry bush and open semi-arid country in East Africa from Somalia to Tanzania. Granivore; gregarious drinker.