Blue korhaan

Last updated

Blue korhaan
Blue Korhaan (Eupodotis caerulescens) male.jpg
Male in the Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape, South Africa
CITES Appendix II (CITES) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Otidiformes
Family: Otididae
Genus: Eupodotis
Species:
E. caerulescens
Binomial name
Eupodotis caerulescens
(Vieillot, 1821)

The blue korhaan or blue bustard (Eupodotis caerulescens) is a species of bird in the family Otididae which is native to South Africa. Its call is a series of frog-like croaks, usually uttered in flight. Its natural habitat is plateau grassland, dry shrubland, arable land and pastureland. Its preferred habitat is one with short grassland and flat topography. [3]

Contents

Description

Southern Free State, South Africa Korhaan Blue 2015 01 26.jpg
Southern Free State, South Africa

Korhaans are ground-dwelling birds with sturdy bodies, large heads and long necks, long legs and short toes. The blue korhaan is a fairly large bird growing to a total length of 50 to 58 cm (20 to 23 in). The forehead and crown are black, while the sides of the head are white. In males, the back, wings and tail are brown but the neck, throat, breast and belly are bluish-grey. Females are similar in colouring but the neck and underparts are a duller grey and the ear coverts are buff. The legs and feet are yellow. The voice is a series of throaty "krok-kau"s, often heard around dawn and uttered during flight. [4] [5]

Distribution and habitat

The blue korhaan is native to South Africa and the western fringes of Lesotho. Its range extends from Pretoria and Mbombela southwards to Bhisho and amounts to an area of around 356,000 km2 (137,000 sq mi). It is found on grassland at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,000 m (5,000 and 10,000 ft). It favours short grass habitats, with a scattering of karoo-type dwarf shrubs, and with termite mounds but few trees, usually within a kilometre of water. It also occurs in previously cultivated and fallow areas, and in winter crops and pasture. [1]

Ecology

This bird is largely terrestrial; when disturbed it crouches down, and on being approached tends to walk or run away with head dipped. It will flush when alarmed however, flying for a considerable distance. It usually occurs in pairs or in small family groups, and forages for insects, lizards, scorpions, seeds, flowers and leaves. Breeding mainly takes place in October and November. The nest is a scoop on the ground, often in thick foliage, where one to three eggs are laid. Incubation takes about 26 days, and the family may stay together for two years. [1] [4]

Status

The population of this species was estimated to be between 8,000 and 10,000 mature birds in 2017 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the Eastern Karoo the population seems to be declining but elsewhere it seems fairly stable. However, according to the IUCN, the area of suitable habitat is being reduced due to grassland being converted for agricultural use, and this is expected to continue. For this reason, the IUCN has assessed the bird's conservation status as being "near threatened". [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bustard</span> Family of birds

Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds living mainly in dry grassland areas and on the steppes of the Old World. They range in length from 40 to 150 cm. They make up the family Otididae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little bustard</span> Species of bird

The little bustard is a bird in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Tetrax. The genus name is from Ancient Greek and refers to a gamebird mentioned by Aristophanes and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kori bustard</span> Species of bustard native to Africa

The kori bustard is the largest flying bird native to Africa. It is a member of the bustard family, which all belong to the order Otidiformes and are restricted in distribution to the Old World. It is one of the four species in the large-bodied genus Ardeotis. In fact, the male kori bustard may be the heaviest living animal capable of flight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Indian bustard</span> Species of bird

The great Indian bustard or Indian bustard, is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent, or in Rajasthan, in the Thar Desert. A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, as few as 150 individuals were estimated to survive in 2018 and the species is critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat, which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub. These birds are often found associated in the same habitat as blackbuck. It is protected under the Wild life Protection Act, 1972 of the Parliament of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denham's bustard</span> Species of bird

Denham's bustard, Stanley bustard or Stanley's bustard is a large bird in the bustard family. It breeds in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a species of open ground, including agricultural land, grassland, flood-plains and burnt fynbos. It is resident, but some inland populations move to lower altitudes in winter. The common names for this species refer to the English explorer, Major Dixon Denham, and the English naturalist Edward Smith-Stanley, 13th Earl of Derby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern black korhaan</span> Species of bird

The southern black korhaan, also known as the black bustard, is a species of bird in the bustard family, Otididae. This small bustard is found in southwestern South Africa, from Namaqualand, south to Cape Town and east to Makhanda. It prefers semi-arid habitats such as grasslands, shrublands and savannas where it can easily prey on ground-dwelling arthropods and eat seeds. It reproduces yearly in the spring and will lay about one or two eggs per breeding season.

<i>Eupodotis</i> Genus of birds

Eupodotis is a genus of bird in the bustard family Otididae. It contains two species, all restricted to Africa. Species in the genera Afrotis and Lophotis are sometimes included in this genus; however some authorities separate the Karoo korhaan, Rüpell's Korhaan and little brown bustard as a separate genus Heterotetrax.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern black korhaan</span> Species of bird

The northern black korhaan, also known as the white-quilled bustard, is a species of bird in the bustard family, Otididae. It is widely distributed across Southern Africa. Its habitat is primarily open grassland and scrub.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buff-crested bustard</span> Species of bird

The buff-crested bustard is a medium-sized bird of East Africa belonging to the family Otididae. The populations are stable and the species is of least concern.

The little brown bustard is a species of bird in the family Otididae. Found in Ethiopia and Somalia, its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland. As indicated by its name, this bustard is the world's smallest at 45 cm (18 in) and 600 grams (1.3 lb). It is threatened by habitat destruction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-bellied bustard</span> Species of bird

The black-bellied bustard, also known as the black-bellied korhaan, is an African ground-dwelling bird in the bustard family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rüppell's korhaan</span> Species of bird

Rüppell's korhaan, also known as Rüppell's bustard, is a species of bird in the family Otididae. The species is represented by a small bustard, only 60 cm long. The head and neck are grey, with black stripes down the throat, through the eye, and on the sides of the neck, and white cheeks. The body is sandy brown above, and white below. The legs are sandy yellow-brown. Rüppell's korhaan received its name to recognize Wilhelm Rüppell, a German explorer, collector and naturalist. It is native to southwestern Africa in Angola and Namibia, according to Collar, N. J. - "The bustards and their conservation." Bustard in Decline, Jaipur (1982): 244–255. It is one of 13 native bird species found in the western part of Namibia. Normally they inhabit areas with low rainfall such as deserts, plains, and savannahs, where their exceptionally well developed senses play a major role in their survival and safety. They are most likely to be found in the Namibrand Nature Reserve, at Mirabib and Ganab in the Namib-Naukluft Park, at Bloedkoppie, and in the Spitzkoppe surroundings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Savile's bustard</span> Species of bird

Savile's bustard is a species of bird in the family Otididae. Otididae are an Old-World and understudied family of birds mostly found in Afro-Tropical regions. It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sudan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied bustard</span> Species of bird

The white-bellied bustard or white-bellied korhaan is an African species of bustard. It is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa in grassland and open woodland habitats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karoo korhaan</span> Species of bird

The karoo korhaan, also known as karoo bustard, is a species of bird in the bustard family, Otididae, from Southern Africa. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, from south-eastern South Africa, and H. v. namaqua, from north-eastern South Africa and southern Namibia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ludwig's bustard</span> Species of bird

Ludwig's bustard is a species of bird in the bustard family, and named after Baron von Ludwig. It is a medium-to-large sized species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 BirdLife International (2017). "Eupodotis caerulescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T22692000A118449147. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22692000A118449147.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. "Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  3. Moreira, Francisco (2006). "Group size and composition are correlated with population density in the group‐territorial blue korhaan (Eupodotis caerulescens)". African Journal of Ecology. 44 (4): 444–451. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2006.00656.x.
  4. 1 2 Collar, N.; Garcia, E.F.J. "Blue Bustard (Eupodotis caerulescens)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  5. Liebenberg, Louis (1990). A Field Guide to the Animal Tracks of Southern Africa. New Africa Books. p. 140. ISBN   978-0-86486-132-0.