| Ludwig's bustard | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Otidiformes |
| Family: | Otididae |
| Genus: | Neotis |
| Species: | N. ludwigii |
| Binomial name | |
| Neotis ludwigii (Rüppell, 1837) | |
Ludwig's bustard (Neotis ludwigii) is a species of bird in the bustard family, and named after Baron von Ludwig. It is a medium-to-large sized species.
The Ludwig's bustard can weigh from 3 to 7.3 kg (6.6 to 16.1 lb), with a mean of 6.3 kg (14 lb) for the much larger male and 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) for the female. Length ranges from 76 to 85 cm (30 to 33 in) in females and 80 to 95 cm (31 to 37 in) in males. [3]
The bird’s face and front neck are coloured grey-brown while the back of the neck and face is white. The nape of the neck is coloured a dull orange. Females and juveniles vary from the male adults by their smaller size and slightly lighter coloured front neck and face. [4]
The Ludwig’s bustard is frequently confused with Stanley’s bustard (more commonly known as the Denham’s bustard), Neotis denham. [5] The Denham’s bustard, however, has a paler grey on its face and front neck, a browner nape, and is also marked with unique crown stripes of black and white on its head. [6]
Ludwig’s bustard is a member of the Otididae family, which comprises the bustards. [7] General bustard characteristics include short, stout bills; camouflaged bodies; and dwelling in savannas and grasslands. [8]
Ludwig’s bustard is part of the African bustard genus known as Neotis , which has three other species besides Ludwig’s bustard. [9]
Typical of a bustard, Ludwig’s bustard lives in grasslands [8] and in semi-arid regions. [5] Their range is typically confined to the Western side of Southern Africa, in Western South Africa, Namibia, and sometimes in Botswana. [5] The total range of the species is roughly 380 000 km2. [10]
In the 1980s, the total population of Ludwig’s bustards was estimated to be 56 000 – 81 000. [5] Recent population estimates of Ludwig’s bustards say that there are about 114 000 of the birds in South Africa alone. [11]
It was commonly believed that the bustards tended to follow rainfall patterns, but this has since been disputed by newer research. [11] However, there does appear to be significant evidence that these birds do prefer to live in modified habitats such as agricultural fields and pastures. [11]
Ludwig’s bustards do not form large flocks, tending to be seen in groups with an average size of 2.13 individuals in summer and 3.56 individuals in winter. [11]
The mating call of the Ludwig’s bustard is a deep ‘bloop’ noise. [12] Not a lot of more specific information on the vocalizations of this species is available.
Ludwig’s bustards have a varied diet. They can eat small animals on the ground such as insects and vertebrates. Their preferred insect to consume is the locust, which are common in their habitat. They are also capable of consuming flowers and seeds. [13]
Ludwig’s bustards live in large, desolate regions which are difficult to access for scientific studies. They are also easily disrupted by scientists seeking to gather information on them. [11] As such, not much information is available for the reproductive behaviors of Ludwig’s bustards, but they have been reported to breed during the month of March in Namibia. [5]
A very pertinent issue to conservation efforts of the Ludwig’s bustard is their overwhelming tendency to fatally collide with powerlines within their habitats. This issue is mainly due to the visual blind spots of bustards being positioned such that when they look down a small degree while in flight, they are no longer able to detect obstacles in their flightpath. [14]
This collision problem is of such a dire magnitude that the future of the species may be in jeopardy because of it. An estimated 4 000 – 11 900 Ludwig’s bustards are killed each year through these collisions. [10]
To help with the conservation of the species in the face of this threat, more detailed information and statistics of the Ludwig’s bustards are necessary for any significant plan of action to be made. [10] In the meantime, future increases in infrastructure construction and power grid upgrades in the habitats of Ludwig’s bustards will naturally pose an increasing threat to the Ludwig’s bustard population. [11]
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.
The houbara bustard, also known as African houbara, is a relatively small bustard native to North Africa, where it lives in arid habitats. The global population is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List since 2014. There is a population in the Canary Islands which has been assessed as Near Threatened in 2015.
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.
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The Anjouan scops owl is an owl endemic to the island of Anjouan in the Comoro Islands.
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 found on the Indian subcontinent. 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 Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India.
MacQueen's bustard is a large bird in the bustard family. It is native to the desert and steppe regions of Asia, west from the Sinai Peninsula extending across Kazakhstan east to Mongolia. In the 19th century, vagrants were found as far west of their range as Great Britain. Populations have decreased by 20 to 50% between 1984 and 2004 mainly due to hunting and changes in land-use. MacQueen's bustard is a partial latitudinal migrant while the houbara bustard is more sedentary. Both species are the only members of the genus Chlamydotis. MacQueen's bustard used to be regarded as a subspecies of the houbara bustard and known as the "Asian houbara".
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 Mindoro imperial pigeon, also known as Mindoro Zone-tailed pigeon, Great Mindoro pigeon or Pink-throated Imperial pigeon, is a bird species in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the mountains of Mindoro in central Philippines and is the largest pigeon in the country reaching 50cm in length.
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 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 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.
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 karoo korhaan, also known as karoo bustard, is a species of bird in the bustard family, Otididae, from Southern Africa. The species is sometimes placed in the genus Heterotetrax. It is the sister-species to Rüppell's korhaan, and the two species are sometimes considered conspecific. There are two subspecies, the nominate race, from south-eastern South Africa, and E. v. namaqua, from north-eastern South Africa and southern Namibia.
Heuglin's bustard is a species of bird in the bustard family.
The Nubian bustard is a species of bird in the bustard family. This is a medium-large bustard found in the sparsely vegetated interface between the southern margins of the Sahara desert and the northern part of the Sahel. It is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan. Its natural habitats are dry savanna and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.
