The other population occurs in a large area from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Kenya in central East Africa.

It inhabits open grassland, moorland, and agricultural areas with some trees or woodland in the vicinity for nesting.

It eats grain and other seeds, and invertebrates, which it digs for with powerful downward stabs of its long bill.

It opens maize kernels before they are fully ripe, bulbs and fleshy roots of certain plants, frogs and small reptiles, and fruits and berries.

It also makes very loud, liquid bubbling sounds that carry quite a distance; it also gives throaty chuckles.