Bustard

Encyclopedia : B : BU : BUS : Bustard

Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. They make up the family Otididae.

Bustards are omnivorous and nest on the ground. They walk steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. They have long broad wings with "fingered" wingtips, and striking patterns in flight. Many have interesting mating displays.

Bustards are gregarious outside the breeding season, but are very wary and difficult to approach in the open habitats they prefer. Most species are declining or endangered through habitat loss and hunting, even where they are nominally protected.

Species

Great Bustard, Otis tarda
Arabian Bustard, Ardeotis Arabs
Kori Bustard, Ardeotis kori, subspecies kori and struthinuclus
Great Indian Bustard, Ardeotis nigriceps
Australian Bustard, Ardeotis australis
Houbara Bustard, Chlamydotis undulata, subspecies undulata and fuertaventurae
Macqueen's Bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii
Ludwig's Bustard, Neotis ludwigii
Denham's Bustard, Neotis denhami
Heuglin's Bustard, Neotis heuglinii
Nubian Bustard, Neotis nuba
White-bellied Bustard, Eupodotis senegalensis
Blue Bustard, Eupodotis caerulescens
Karoo Bustard, Eupodotis vigorsii
Rüppell's Bustard, Eupodotis rueppellii
Little Brown Bustard, Eupodotis humilis
Savile's Bustard, Lophotis savilei
Buff-crested Bustard, Lophotis gindiana
Red-crested Bustard, Lophotis ruficrista
Black Bustard, Afrotis afra
White-quilled Bustard, Afrotis afraoides
Black-bellied Bustard, Lissotis melanogaster
Hartlaub's Bustard, Lissotis hartlaubii
Bengal Florican, Houbaropsis bengalensis
Lesser Florican, Sypheotides indica
Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax

Macqueen's Bustard has recently been split from Houbara bustard as a full species.

References

External links

[Bustard videos] on the Internet Bird Collection

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