Yellow-throated sandgrouse
Scientific name: Pterocles gutturalis
- How weight is recorded: Whole weight
Field notes
Appearance
Small sandgrouse with distinctive yellow throat and face, grey-brown back and coverts. Males show more intense yellow on the throat than females.
Size and weight
Typical weight 150–200 g, body length 25–28 cm.
Habitat
Favours arid and semi-arid stony, sandy terrain on plateaux and hillsides between 1000–2500 m elevation.
Distribution
Found in arid regions of East Africa from the Ethiopian highlands south to Tanzania and Kenya, preferring open steppeland.
Diet
Small seeds from steppe plants and shrubs; drinks at water sources during dawn and dusk.
Behaviour
Active in daylight with peaks of activity at dawn and dusk. Lives in small flocks or pairs, spending time on the ground and perching low on bushes.
Hunting tips
Locate small groups at water sources during twilight hours. Scout flight routes to drinking sites on open terrain. Approach low and slow with the wind behind you, using natural cover; birds are nervous and flush readily.
Whole weight
This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.
Where it is hunted
Listed as huntable in 5 countries in Huntify.
Names in other languages
Current language: en
These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.