[2] Burchell's sandgrouse is a plump bird about the size of a pigeon with a small head and short legs.

[citation needed] Burchell's sandgrouse is limited by water availability, like many species residing in desert environments.

Adult sandgrouse increase gular fluttering and panting for evaporative cooling when approaching the upper critical limit of their thermal neutral zone around 43.8°C.

Burchell's sandgrouse is found in Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

[5] It frequents areas of rough grass and scrub, especially on red Kalahari sand and has been able to extend its range because of the greater availability of water after the sinking of boreholes by farmers.