bustards

Bustards are a family of large, ground-dwelling birds, Otididae, found across the Old World. They inhabit open landscapes such as steppes, grasslands, savannas, and arid or semi-arid regions, and may use cultivated fields for foraging. They are adapted to running and short bouts of flight.

In size, bustards range from the small little bustard to the enormous great bustard. The great bustard (Otis tarda) is among the heaviest flying birds, with males typically larger than females. Plumage is generally cryptic browns and grays that blend with the ground, though some species show contrasting breeding plumage or flamboyant displays by males.

Bustards are primarily terrestrial and typically solitary or found in small groups, except during migration or in winter when numbers may increase. Breeding is usually polygynous, with males defending display grounds and performing elaborate courtship displays to attract females. The female builds a simple ground nest and incubates the eggs; chicks are precocial and independent soon after hatching.

Diet is omnivorous, including seeds, tubers, leaves, fruits, and a variety of insects and other invertebrates. They forage during the day, using their senses to locate food in open habitats.

Conservation: Many bustard populations have declined due to habitat loss, agricultural intensification, hunting, and collisions with power lines. Some species have benefited from habitat protection and management programs, but regional trends vary. Notable species include the great bustard (Otis tarda), houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata), Macqueen's bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii), and little bustard (Tetrax tetrax).