Namaqua sandgrouse

Description:

My third spotting of Namaqua sandgrouse in Namibia (and in life, too), and second posted to PN, and once again in Kunene region. This plump, ground dwelling, bird size of a large pigeon, has a small head, round body and short legs. Mainly brown in colour, it presents sexual dimorphism - on a photo No 1, female; and in pics 2 and 3 a male.

Habitat:

Found in dry habitats of southern Africa, here observed in arid shrubland of northwestern part of Namibia, somewhere deep in the bush close to a rural road. The environment is arid open acacia tree-and-shrub, very dry (but still magnificent and rich in wildlife) at the moment, following a three-year dry-spell. At mid-day, these two were pecking their way under the bush and away of the road, under a blinding light and scorching heat.