| Buff-crested bustard | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Otidiformes |
| Family: | Otididae |
| Genus: | Lophotis |
| Species: | L. gindiana |
| Binomial name | |
| Lophotis gindiana (Oustalet, 1881) | |
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Range of Lophotis gindiana | |
The buff-crested bustard (Lophotis gindiana) is a medium-sized bird of East Africa; Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya belonging to the family Otididae. The populations are stable and the species is of least concern. [1]
The buff-crested bustard is a medium-sized East African bird that can reach up to 60 cm or 24 inches in height. [3] Compared to other African bustards, this species is relatively small. [4] Male buff-crested bustards weigh between 675 and 900 grams. Mature males display a black stripe that extends from the throat to the breast. [3] The male plumage is grey or buff, except for the black stripe and dark underside of the body. Most bustards of this family are sexually dimorphic; the male and female differ in plumage coloration and size. [5] On the female, the line visible on the throat is duller and the overall grey coloration seen in the male is replaced by a light brown. [3] As a result of ground-dwelling behaviour, the birds lack a hind toe and do not perch. [5] The species gets its name from the coloured feather crest shown in males, but which is not present in females. [3] [4] [6] When the bird's wings are extended, a large white patch is visible under each wing. [4]
The buff-crested bustard (Lophotis gindiana) belongs to the family Otididae within the order Gruiformes. [7] Otididae, or the bustard family, contains 25 species of extant bustards. [5] The Lophotis genus includes the Savile's bustard, red-crested bustard (or red-crested korhaan), and buff-crested bustard. These three species are sometimes considered as conspecifics due to physical and behavioural similarities. [3] The buff-crested bustard is sometimes referred to as Eupodotis ruficrista gindiana, referencing to the genus it was previously assigned to when considered a subspecies of the red-crested bustard. Recent genetic analysis rejects the combined supergenus Eupodotis , and considers the genera Lophotis a distinct lineage outside of Eupodotis. [7]
Although they exist throughout East Africa, buff-crested bustards are most common in Ethiopia. There, they can be seen throughout the southern regions, east of the Rift Valley. [8] The bird is a non-migrating resident in Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya. [9] [10] The buff-crested bustard is sedentary and can be found in thorny scrub and arid stony desert habitats. [4] In Kenya, it favours arid to semiarid climates, and is absent from sub-humid areas in the coastal strip. [9] It is different from most bustards in that it is less likely to be seen in high grasses, preferring ecosystems established on stony or sandy soils. The female's coloration offers optimal camouflage in these habitats. [4]
The bird is more often heard than seen. [9] The vocalizations are described as powerful short whistles. [11] During display, the males produce a series of accelerating loud whistles, or 'kri-kri-kri' calls, that slow down towards the end. [6]
In captivity, buff-crested bustards have been fed mice, mealworms, crickets, apple, cabbage, chopped greens, bustard pellets, and game bird pellets. Their diet in the wild is inadequately studied. [12]
During the mating season in spring and summer, males put on elaborate aerial displays to get selected by a female for mating. The male will fly up to 30 meters upwards, stall, and drop with folded wings. Before reaching the ground, it opens its wings at the last moment and lands abruptly on the ground. [5] Except during display for mating, both males and females are reluctant flyers, preferring to creep away from danger. [4]
A captive female buff-crested bustards has been observed carrying her newborn chicks in attempts to deliberately displace them. The hen carried one chick at a time under her wing to relocate it, then dropped it at a desired location. [13] It is unknown whether this behaviour is common among individuals of this species.
Hens lay 1 or 2 eggs in nests situated on the ground. [3]
Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds living mainly in dry grassland areas and in steppe regions. They range in length from 40 to 150 cm. They make up the family Otididae.
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.
The great Indian bustard or Indian bustard is a bustard occurring on the Indian subcontinent. It is a large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, and is among the heaviest of the flying birds. Once common on the dry grasslands and shrubland in India, as few as 150 individuals were estimated to survive as of 2018, reduced from an estimated 250 individuals in 2011. It is critically endangered due to hunting and habitat loss. It is protected under the Indian Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
The lesser florican, also known as the likh or kharmore, is the smallest in the bustard family and the only member of the genus Sypheotides. It is endemic to the Indian Subcontinent where it is found in tall grasslands and is best known for the leaping breeding displays made by the males during the monsoon season. The male has a contrasting black and white breeding plumage and distinctive elongated head feathers that extend behind the neck. These bustards are found mainly in northwestern and central India during the summer but are found more widely distributed across India in winter. The species is highly endangered and has been extirpated in some parts of its range such as Pakistan. It is threatened both by hunting and habitat degradation. The only similar species is the Bengal florican which is larger and lacks the white throat, collar and elongated plumes.
The Australian bustard is a large ground-dwelling bird that is common in grassland, woodland and open agricultural country across northern Australia and southern New Guinea. It stands at about one metre high, and its wingspan is around twice that length. The species is nomadic, flying to areas when food becomes plentiful, and capable of travelling long distances. They were once widespread and common to the open plains of Australia, but became rare in regions that have been used for farming. The bustard is omnivorous, mostly consuming the fruit or seed of plants, but also eating invertebrates such as crickets, grasshoppers, smaller mammals, birds and reptiles.
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.
The Arabian bustard is a species of bustard which is found across the Sahel region of Africa and south western Arabia. It is part of the large-bodied genus, Ardeotis, and, though little known, appears to be a fairly typical species in that group.
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.
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.
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.
The blue korhaan or blue bustard 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.
Hartlaub's bustard is a species of bird in the family Otididae. It is a medium-sized bustard with a long, think neck, and long legs. It is found in open, tall grassland, range from 1600 meters to 2000 meters in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
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.
The black-bellied bustard, also known as the black-bellied korhaan, is an African ground-dwelling bird in the bustard family.
The red-crested korhaan or red-crested bustard is a species of bird in the family Otididae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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.
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. Despite its wide distribution and easily identifiable characteristics, very few studies have been conducted on this species and little is known about its life history and behavior.
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-western South Africa and southern Namibia.
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.
Lophotis is a genus of bustard in the family Otididae. The genus contains three species, all found in Africa. All three species are sometimes placed in the genus Eupodotis, and are closely related to that genus and the genus Afrotis. One distinctive feature of the genus is a pink retractile crest.
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