The adult male has a black mask and lacks any grey tones on the neck and breast.

[3] The crowned sandgrouse occurs in North Africa and south Asia and is found from Mauritania in the west through the Middle East to Pakistan.

[4] In North Africa breeds among dark red sandstone which matches its plumage colour.

For example, it is scarce in Libya north of 32°N but is frequent at Wadi Caam in the dry season of June to September.

It is gregarious outside the breeding season, especially when visiting water resources which it flies to in early and mid morning and again towards sunset.