Hartlaub's bustard | |
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Adult male | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Otidiformes |
Family: | Otididae |
Genus: | Lissotis |
Species: | L. hartlaubii |
Binomial name | |
Lissotis hartlaubii (Heuglin, 1863) | |
Hartlaub's bustard (Lissotis hartlaubii) 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 common name and Latin binomial commemorate the German physician and ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub. [3] They initially classified under the genus Eupodotis in 1839, [4] a subsequent genetic study revealed that the genus Lissotis represents a distinct, long-standing lineage, separate from Eupodotis, emerging during the evolutionary diversification of bustards at the generic level. [5]
A mature Hartlaub's bustard is about 60 cm 60 centimetres (24 in), recorded weights range from 1,500–1,600 g (1.5–1.6 kg). [6] They are indistinguishable from a far distance, as they are similar to L. melanogaster. The male Hartlaub's bustard has a grayish coloration with a more distinct black stripe on its face, as well as a black stripe running down its neck that connects to its black belly. [6] They have a small head set on a long neck, and a bulky body with large legs. The female is similar in appearance to the male, but with a cream-coloured head and hind neck with dark brown markings, a whitish belly and paler tail. [7]
In flight, Hartlaub's bustard shows less black in the wings and black rump. [7]
The Hartlaub's bustard has a relatively restricted ranges within the Horn of Africa. They are sedentary and nomadic, can be found year-round in Ethiopia, SE Sudan and E South Sudan, NW & S Somalia, NE Uganda, NW & S Kenya and N Tanzania. [6] [7]
In general, they prefer different forms of "bush", which include light woodland, thorn country, high scrub and tall grass cover in dense savanna or on the fringes of water bodies. [6] They can live in open, tall grassland with scattered Acacia at elevation up to 1600 m. In Kenya, they inhabit lower and drier environments compared to L. melanogaster , but in Ethiopia, they can be found at elevations up to 2,000 meters in fields with Acacia and short-grass savanna. [7]
The Hartlaub's bustard exhibits a contrasting strategy compared to other species, having presumably attained a balance between improved concealment and the heightened risk of ambush. However, as a smaller bustard, it is more adept at making a rapid take-off in response to a close-range threat. [6] They shows a certain level of sexual size dimorphism, that the female is proportionately smaller and lighter than the males. [8]
Evidence indicates that the male Hartlaub's bustard exhibits a distinctive display flight, ascending steeply to a height of 15-20 meters before gliding downward with its wings held in a shallow V and its legs trailing. [6]
The breed usually in rainy periods however it depends on the geography of the place. In Ethiopia, Hartlaub's bustard breed in April and in eats Africa. they breed around January to June. however the aerial display of breeding is recorded in November. [9]
Male Hartlaub's bustard developed elongated filamentous breast plumes that are puffed up in display. The Hartlaub's bustard exhibits both terrestrial polygyny and lek polygyny. [8] During copulation, the male repeatedly pecks at the female's head. Nest-site selection and incubation are solely the responsibility of the female. [6]
The eggs are a matte olive-greenish brown, marked with distinct brown spots ranging from 4 to 6 mm in diameter, with a denser concentration of pigment at the pointed end. The incubation period lasts between 20 and 25 days. [6] [7] The chicks have creamy buff down, featuring both light and dark markings. [7]
They are omnivorous and highly opportunistic in their feeding habits, consuming both animals (invertebrates and small vertebrates) as well as vegetation. [6]
By inflating and extending its neck, the male Hartlaub's bustard produces three distinct sounds: a rapid "click," followed by a "tok," and then a long, deep "booom." These sounds do not travel far. [6] [7]
The Hartlaub's bustard is a K-selected species, meaning it has a long lifespan and low reproductive output. [6] With a generation length of 10.3 years, [10] its long generation time and restricted range make monitoring the species challenging and difficult to sustain. [6]
Hartlaub's Bustard is not considered globally threatened, classified as a species of 'Least Concern' under CITES Appendix II. [10] However, bustard populations are generally in decline, largely due to habitat loss caused by agricultural intensification, hunting, and other forms of environmental modification. [6] The global population size of Hartlaub's Bustard remains unknown, as the species is rare and primarily found in localized areas of Africa. In the absence of significant evidence of population decline or major threats, the population is currently suspected to be stable. [10]
Hartlaub's duck is a dark chestnut-coloured duck of African forests. Formerly included in the paraphyletic "perching duck" assemblage, it was later moved to the dabbling duck assemblage. However, it is fairly distinct from the "typical" dabbling ducks, and is placed in the monotypic genus Pteronetta. It is named after the German naturalist Gustav Hartlaub.
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.
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.
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.
The buff-crested bustard 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.
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.
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.
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.
Heuglin's bustard is a species of bird in the bustard family.
The cardinal quelea is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.
Lissotis is a genus of bird in the bustard family, Otididae. Some authorities, such as the IUCN, consider it part of Eupodotis; the separation adopted here follows the Handbook of the Birds of the World.