Bustard
Large terrestrial birds of dry grasslands and steppes.
Bustards, a group that includes floricans and korhaans, are large, terrestrial birds primarily inhabiting dry grasslands and steppe regions. They range in length from 40 to 150 cm. The family is known as Otididae, a name introduced by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1815, derived from the genus *Otis* established by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, which itself comes from the Greek word *ōtis*. The two largest species, the kori bustard and the great bustard, are often considered the world's heaviest flying birds, with large males exceeding 20 kg and reaching 150 cm in length. The smallest species, the little brown bustard, is around 40 cm long and weighs about 600 g. Males are typically much larger than females, exhibiting one of the most extreme sexual dimorphisms among birds; however, in floricans, the female is slightly larger. Bustards have wings with ten primaries and 16–24 secondary feathers, with 18–20 tail feathers, and their plumage is predominantly cryptic. They are omnivorous and opportunistic, feeding on leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. They nest on the ground, making eggs and chicks vulnerable to predators. Their strong legs and big toes allow steady walking as they peck for food, and they generally prefer running or walking to flying. Their long, broad wings have fingered tips and show striking patterns in flight. Mating displays often involve inflating throat sacs or raising elaborate crests. The female lays three to five dark, speckled eggs in a scrape and incubates them alone. Genetic evidence suggests bustards evolved around 30 million years ago in southern or eastern Africa, later dispersing into Eurasia and Australia. Outside the breeding season, they are gregarious but wary. Most species are declining or endangered due to habitat loss and hunting. In Britain, bustards were once common on Salisbury Plain but became rare by 1819, with the last native bird dying around 1832. Reintroduction efforts using chicks from Russia have seen success, with chicks hatching in Britain in 2009 and 2010 for the first time in over 170 years. The word "bustard" originates from Old French *bistarda* and related terms in Portuguese, Galician, and Spanish, all derived from Pliny the Elder's Latin *avis tarda*, meaning "slow bird," referencing their deliberate walking style. The name "florican" for some Indian bustards has uncertain orig
- family
- Otididae
- number_of_species
- 26
- diet
- omnivorous and opportunistic
- habitat
- dry grassland areas and steppe regions
- heaviest_flying_birds
- kori bustard and great bustard
Quick Facts
- Taxon
- Otididae
- Subdivision
- Lissotis / Ardeotis / Neotis / Tetrax / Otis / Chlamydotis / Houbaropsis / Sypheotides / Lophotis / Eupodotis / Afrotis
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The word bustard comes from the Old French bistarda and other languages such as abetarda (Portuguese) and avutarda (Spanish) used for the great bustard. The word tarda comes from tardus in Latin meaning 'slow' and 'deliberate', describing the typical walking style of the species. Some Indian bustards are also called floricans, though the origin of the name is unclear. Thomas C. The Hobson-Jobson dictionary casts doubt on this theory, suggesting that the name Flercher may be a clerical error for some form of floriken. Otididae and before that Otidae come from the genus Otis given to the great bustard by Carl Linnaeus in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae in 1758, from the Greek word ὠτίς ōtis.
Reader's Guide
Bustards are notable as among the most sexually dimorphic groups of birds, with males substantially larger than females in most species, often about 30% longer and sometimes more than twice the weight. In only the floricans is the sexual dimorphism reversed, with the adult female slightly larger and heavier than the male. Bustards are gregarious outside the breeding season but are very wary and difficult to approach in open habitats. Most species are declining or endangered through habitat loss and hunting, even where nominally protected. Genetic dating indicates that bustards evolved about 30 million years ago in either southern or eastern Africa, from where they dispersed into Eurasia and Australia. Their wings have 10 primaries and 16–24 secondary feathers, with 18–20 feathers in the tail. The plumage is predominantly cryptic. They make their nests on the ground, laying three to five dark, speckled eggs in a scrape, and the female incubates them alone.
Did You Know?
- The word bustard derives from Latin avis tarda, meaning 'slow bird', given by Pliny the Elder.
- The two largest species, the kori bustard and the great bustard, are often cited as the world's heaviest flying birds.
- In floricans, the sexual dimorphism is reversed: the adult female is slightly larger and heavier than the male.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a bustard?
Bustards are a group of large, ground-dwelling birds belonging to the family Otididae (once called Otidae). They include well-known members like floricans and korhaans, and they're built for life on open ground rather than in trees.
How many bustard species exist?
There are currently 26 recognised species across the family. They span a range of sizes, from the relatively modest korhaans up to the truly massive kori and great bustards.
What do bustards eat?
They're opportunistic omnivores, grabbing whatever is handy: grass leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, small vertebrates, and invertebrates. Their diet shifts a lot depending on what's available in their habitat at the time.
Where do bustards live?
They're tied to dry, open country—grasslands and steppe regions are their go-to environments. You'll rarely find them in dense forest; they need wide, flat ground to forage and display.
Are bustards the heaviest birds that can fly?
Yes—the kori bustard and the great bustard hold that record. Despite their bulk, both species are fully capable of sustained flight, which is remarkable given how heavy they get.
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