Double-Banded Sandgrouse

     The Double-Banded Sandgrouse is a species of Sandgrouse endemic to arid parts of the southern portion of Africa. It has four subspecies, that are distributed across its large distribution range, and bear slight differences.

     The Double-Banded sandgrouse is a light-brown bird with darker mottling and rows of whitish specks. The male is distinguished by having a black and white band on its forehead, and a chestnut throat area followed by another black and white band. Both sexes of the Double-Banded sandgrouse have an area of bare yellow skin surrounding their eyes. While, the female lacks the band, and duller in color with more barring on her back.

     The male Double-Banded sandgrouse is similar in appearance to the male Black-Faced Sandgrouse, but differs mainly in the face pattern. Also, the latter species inhabits a totally different area (Ethiopia and the horn of Africa). The Double-Banded sandgrouse is less common than the Burchell’s Sandgrouse and the Namaqua Sandgrouse, both of which have overlapping areas in southern Africa, and have completely different color pattern.

     Breeding takes place between February and September, peaking earlier in the northern part of the range than the south. The nest of the Double-Banded sandgrouse is a shallow depression on the ground, lined with a few bits of dried vegetation. The female usually lays 2 – 3 eggs, and both sexes incubate the eggs for about 24 days. As with other sandgrouse species, Double-Banded sandgrouse chicks are precocial when hatching, and they fledge after about a month.

 

Place of originAngola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa 
UsePreservation
WeightAverage: 230 g
Egg colorPale pink with reddish-brown blotches

 

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The male Double-Banded Sandgrouse by Clinton Jonker
12 - Double-Banded Sandgrouse
The male Double-Banded Sandgrouse by Ian White
Double banded Sandgrouse Pterocles bicinctus female 11668479455 1 - Double-Banded Sandgrouse
The female Double-Banded Sandgrouse by Bernard DUPONT