Pterocles gutturalis A.Smith, 1836

Physical Adaptations

This species, Pterocles gutturalis (yellow-throated sandgrouse), has long, pointed wings adapted for long-distance flight. Most of its body and legs are covered in feathers, which reduces heat gain via convection.

Size

Males and females are similar in size, with an average weight of 350 g (12 oz) and an approximate height of 30 cm (12 in).

Adult Plumage

The two sexes differ noticeably in their plumage: males have brighter coloration, with black collars, lores, and underwing coverts, while females have paler, more cryptically colored plumage.

Juvenile Plumage

Juvenile plumage resembles that of females, but has a finer mottling pattern.

Subspecies Plumage

The two recognized subspecies also differ primarily in plumage: P. g. saturatior has brighter, cinnamon-colored upperwing-coverts.

Habitat Types

Yellow-throated sandgrouse lives in open grasslands, farmlands, and the edges of arid areas.

Soil Preferences

It favors clay-rich soils, and avoids coarser sandy or rocky soils formed from quartzite and granite.

Distribution Pattern

The species has a disjunct distribution that follows arid corridors.

Nominate Subspecies Range

The nominate subspecies P. g. gutturalis is found in Angola, southern Zambia, western Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and northern South Africa.

P. g. saturatior Range

P. g. saturatior occurs from Tanzania to northern Zambia, and across southern Ethiopia through Kenya.

P. g. saturatior Movement

P. g. saturatior is mostly sedentary.

Nominate Subspecies Movement

South African populations of the nominate subspecies are also sedentary, while populations in Namibia and Botswana are migratory; overall, P. g. gutturalis is mostly migratory, as regional flood patterns force the birds to move.

Breeding Timing

The breeding season for this species runs from March to October.

Courtship Knowledge

While courtship behavior has been recorded in pairs of P. g. gutturalis, written descriptions of these rituals are scarce and inconsistent compared to what is known for other sandgrouse species.

Nest Construction

To build their nest, a breeding pair scrapes out a depression in the soil, then lines it with dry weed stems or dry grass.

Nest Placement

When vegetation cover is available, pairs will choose a nest spot next to this cover. Nests from different pairs can be found 40 to 45 meters apart in the same open field.

Egg Development Traits

Eggs of this species are relatively small, which lowers parental energy investment and shortens the combined laying and incubation period, which totals approximately 30 days.

Eggshell Adaptations

Eggshells have a reduced pore area that limits water loss in arid environments.

Reproductive Productivity

The mean clutch size is 2.85 eggs, and average annual productivity is estimated at 0.42 to 0.85 young per breeding pair.