Painted Sandgrouse vs Black-bellied Sandgrouse
Pterocles indicus compared with Pterocles orientalis
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Painted Sandgrouse | Black-bellied Sandgrouse |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pterocles indicus | Pterocles orientalis |
| Order | Pterocliformes | Pterocliformes |
| Family | Pteroclidae | Pteroclidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 33.7 cm (13.3 in) | 45.6 cm (18.0 in) |
| Weight | 185.5 g (6.54 oz) | 427.5 g (15.08 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-3 | 2-3 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
Painted Sandgrouse
Loud, far-carrying call with resonant quality; powerful notes carrying across open 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
Painted Sandgrouse
Black-bellied Sandgrouse
How to Tell Them Apart
Painted Sandgrouse
Painted Sandgrouse: males with black-white face mask; orange neck; spotted brown above; barred white below; Indian subcontinent
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
Painted Sandgrouse
Painted Sandgrouse (Pterocles indicus) — 26–30 cm. Boldly patterned; male with chestnut, black, and white breast bands; spotted underparts; short rounded tail. Endemic to the Indian subcontinent in dry rocky scrub and open woodland. Granivore. The only sandgrouse lacking pin-shaped tail feathers in India.
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.