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Great African bustard. Heaviest flying bird Indian great bustard Information About

Bustards (lat.Otididae)- a family of large land birds native to the Old World, belonging to the crane-like order. According to genetic studies, they are considered relatives of cranes, which deviated from about 70 million years ago. Includes 26 species, divided into 11 genera.

Spreading

All species, with the exception of one, inhabit the steppes, savannas, and semi-deserts of Africa, Asia, and southern Europe; one species, the Australian great bustard (Ardeotis australis), lives in Australia and New Guinea. 16 bustard species live exclusively in the tropical zone of Africa, 2 more sometimes appear in its northern part.

Most prefer open spaces where there is a good view over a considerable distance. Some African species, such as little bustards (Eupodotis), crested bustards (Lophotis), black-bellied bustards (Lissotis) are tolerant of various woody vegetation, such as acacia groves or thickets of thorny bushes; and lesser Indian bustards (Sypheotides) and floricans (Houbaropsis) usually inhabit areas with tall grass.

Classification

Genus Afrotis
- Black bustard (Afrotis afra)
- Afrotis afraoides
Genus Vihlai (Chlamydotis)
- Wobble (Chlamydotis undulata)
- Chlamydotis macqueenii
Genus Big bustards (Ardeotis)
- Arabian bustard (Ardeotis arabs)
- African Great Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
- Indian Great Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
- Australian Great Bustard (Ardeotis australis)
Genus Small bustards (Eupodotis)
- Senegalese bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)
- Blue Bustard (Eupodotis caerulescens)
- Black-throated bustard (Eupodotis vigorsii)
- Eupodotis rueppellii
- Brown bustard (Eupodotis humilis)
Genus? Hobaropsis
- Bearded Bustard (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
Genus Lissotis
- Black-bellied bustard (Lissotis melanogaster)
- Sudanese bustard (Lissotis hartlaubii)
Genus Lophotis
- Red-crested bustard (Lophotis ruficrista)
- Lophotis savilei
- Lophotis gindiana
Genus African Bustards (Neotis)
- South African bustard (Neotis ludwigii)
- African Kaffir Bustard (Neotis denhami)
- Somali African bustard (Neotis heuglinii)
- Nubian African bustard (Neotis nuba)
Genus Bustards (Otis)
- Bustard (Otis tarda)
Genus Small Indian Bustards (Sypheotides)
- Lesser Indian bustard (Sypheotides indica)
Genus Bustard (Tetrax)
- Little bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

Description

The size and weight of birds varies considerably from 40 to 120 cm and from 0.45 to 19 kg, respectively; The African great bustard (Ardeotis kori) is considered the largest representative of the family, reaching a height of 110 cm and a weight of up to 19 kg, which makes it one of the most massive flying birds on Earth.

The physique is strong. The head is relatively large, slightly flattened in the upper part. Male bustards (Otis), large bustards (Ardeotis), African bustards (Neotis), black-bellied bustards (Lissotis), beauty bustards (Chlamydotis) and floricans (Houbaropsis) have a feathery crest on their heads, which is especially noticeable during mating games. The beak is short, straight. The neck is long, slightly thickened. The wings are large and strong, when danger appears, birds most often try to fly away. The legs are long, with wide and relatively short toes, on which there are hard calloused hemispheres in the lower part; the hind toe is missing, suggesting their terrestrial lifestyle. Bustard males are larger than females, which is most noticeable in large species - the difference in their size reaches up to 1/3 of the length of the other sex; in smaller species, the difference is less noticeable.

The plumage is predominantly of protective shades: in the upper part it is brown or finely striated, which well merges the bird pressed to the ground with the environment. In the lower part, the plumage is different: in species inhabiting open spaces, it is often white; and with dense vegetation sometimes black. Many species have black and white spots on the wings, invisible on the ground and clearly visible during flight. Males tend to be more brightly colored than females, at least during the breeding season; the exception is the genus Bustards (Eupodotis), where the plumage of both sexes looks the same.

Lifestyle

Bustards lead an exclusively terrestrial lifestyle, never using trees or shrubs. Several species such as the bustard (Otis tarda) or the little bustard (Tetrax tetrax) congregate in flocks, the latter living in groups of several thousand individuals. Desert-adapted species, such as bustards (Chlamydotis), live more solitary lives. Some species gather in groups only during the mating season. Often they can be seen among herds of grazing animals, where they prey on disturbed insects and are more protected from predator attacks.

Only a few populations are exclusively sedentary, while the majority are nomadic or migratory birds. Species that breed in Asia migrate long distances in winter.

Nutrition

Bustards are omnivorous and have a very wide dietary range. However, in most species, plant foods still predominate. They consume young shoots, flowers and leaves of herbaceous plants; dig soft roots; feed on fruits and seeds. In addition, they feed on various insects: beetles, grasshoppers and other arthropods. Sometimes they eat small vertebrates: reptiles, rodents, etc., not disdaining carrion. Birds can do without water for a long time, but if it is available, they drink it well.

reproduction

The breeding season usually coincides with the season of heavy rains, when there is an abundance of food. When courting, males of many species arrange magnificent displays, in which they are able, by ruffling their necks, to make an impressive drum trill, and also inflate it like a balloon. Small species, especially those living in tall grass, jump high into the air or make small flights so that it can be seen from a distance.

As a rule, there is no long-term relationship between the female and the male, and after fertilization, the female incubates the eggs and hatches the chicks alone. The nest is arranged on the ground, in a small depression covered with grassy vegetation. The female lays 1-6 (most often 2-4) eggs within a few days. The incubation period is different for different species, but in general lasts in a small interval of 20-25 days. The chicks are of the brood type and are able to leave the nest within a few hours after birth.

BUSTARD

"DROFA", pub. house, Moscow. Main in 1991 as LLC. Textbooks, uch.-methodical. and reference literature for general education. uch. establishments.

Big Russian encyclopedic dictionary. 2012

general characteristics

The Indian bustard is a large bird, reaching a height of 1 m, a wingspan of up to 2.5 m, and a weight of over 18 kg. The male is noticeably larger than the female. The back is brown, the head and neck are grayish-beige, the belly is the same color. Males have a black stripe on the chest, a black crest up to 5 cm long on the crown of the head. Long, strong legs have three fingers pointing forward. The length of the middle finger is approximately 7.5 cm.

Spreading

Lives in India. Lives, like all bustards, in open spaces, fields and wastelands.

Lifestyle

The step of the Indian bustard is majestic, each step is taken slowly. She holds her head high, at an angle of 45 °, which makes it seem that the neck is arched slightly back. The alarmed bustard begins to scream.

Nutrition

The large Indian bustard feeds on various small animals - grasshoppers, snails, small snakes, centipedes, lizards, beetles, pecks spiders from the web. In addition, the bustard also hunts mice, thus doing a service for local farmers. It also feeds on plants: some types of herbs, leaves, seeds and grains. It raids melons, eats seeds from watermelons and melons. The bustard usually feeds early in the morning and late in the evening, resting during the day.

reproduction

The Indian great bustard is a polygamous bird. The male has several females, but he does not show concern for eggs and offspring. For mating ceremonies, the male chooses small hills or sand dunes; when strangers approach, he immediately hides in the thickets of tall grass. during the mating season, the male dances, importantly paces, opening his tail like a fan, shouting loudly. His cry resembles something between the snort of a camel and the roar of a lion. Usually these cries can be heard in the morning hours before dawn and in the evening twilight and are carried over long distances. After mating, the female lays one egg, usually in places remote from humans. To do this, she digs a hole in the ground and lays an egg. Sometimes two eggs can be found in a bustard's nest at once. However, according to ornithologists, this does not mean that one female laid two eggs, most likely, these are two females from one male who laid their eggs in one place. Usually Indian bustards lay their eggs from June to October, sometimes this happens at other times of the year. The egg of the Indian bustard is elongated, covered with chocolate spots and reddish-brown markings. After 20-28 days, a chick hatches from the egg, which can immediately walk. In cases of danger, the female sits on the nest to the last, then unexpectedly jumps out to meet the enemy, loudly flapping her wings. If there is a chick in the nest, then it starts to hiss or silently changes its location and sits on the ground. Sometimes the female pretends to be wounded, pretending that her legs are knocked out and leads the enemy away from the nest, flies low above the ground, the chick at this time sits pressed to the ground and does not move until the mother calls him. After a while, he begins to make quiet whistling sounds, calling for his mother.

Indian bustard and man

Due to poaching, the Indian bustard has been brought to the brink of extinction. In the 1970s, measures began to be taken in India to save the Indian bustard, it was even proposed to make it a national symbol of this country. some Indian zoos have learned to breed bustards, the most suitable diet for captive birds has been developed.

Notes

Boehme R. L., Flint V. E. Five-language dictionary of animal names. Birds. Latin, Russian, English, German, French / Edited by Acad. V. E. Sokolova. - M.: Rus. lang., "RUSSO", 1994. - S. 76. - 2030 copies. - ISBN 5-200-00643-0.

Literature

Bedi R. "Animal World of India" M.: Mir 1987

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Indian Great Bustard Information About

Or Bustard Corey- a large flying bird that lives, as the name implies, on the African mainland. It occurs in open areas with sandy soils overgrown with low grass and shrubs, as well as in sparsely forested savannahs and semi-deserts. These characteristics correspond to the territories of Botswana, Namibia, Partly Angola, Zambabwe, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa. Leads mainly a sedentary lifestyle, making minor movements after the rains.

african bustard is the heaviest flying bird on the continent. Male individuals reach a weight of up to 19 kg, and grow in length up to 130 cm. Females differ greatly in size - they are about 2/3 lighter than males, and weigh an average of 5.5 kg. The bird has a relatively long neck and very long legs, the general tone of the feather cover is gray-brown.

The feathers on the neck are long, have a gray color with a huge amount of black and white streaks. The back and part of the wings are brown-brown, the chest and belly are white, there are several dozen randomly scattered black spots on the folds of the wings. On the back of the head there is a long crest of black feathers, legs and beak are yellowish.

The great African bustard spends most of its time on the ground. Being a large and heavy bird, it takes off only when absolutely necessary.

Bustards live both singly and in small groups of 5-7 birds. They are active in the mornings and evenings, when they walk sedately on the ground in search of food. They are quite omnivorous, but mainly eat insects such as locusts, grasshoppers and caterpillars. Also, lizards, chameleons, snakes, small mammals and even chicks, eggs and carrion often fall into their menu. bustard cory regularly visit watering places if they are located nearby, however, the bird can be found far from water sources. Unusually, they do not scoop up water, like other birds, but suck it.

The mating season for the great African bustard is most active in November and December. Like other bustards, this species "professes" a polygamous breeding model - one male mates with many females. Fierce skirmishes often occur between males, when they, having inflated their goiter, fluffing feathers on their necks, lowering their wings and sticking out their tails, rush at each other, showering the opponent with a hail of blows with their beaks.

After mating, the female Kori bustard lays 2 (rarely more or less) eggs on bare ground. Then, within 23-30 days, the female incubates the clutch, practically without leaving the nest. When the chicks hatch, she provides soft food for them to eat. Chicks fledge at the 4-5th week, but they will be able to fly confidently only at the age of 3-4 months.

Mostly a terrestrial bird, the African kori bustard is prey to a variety of predators. Among them, leopard, cheetah, mountain pythons, jackals and martial eagles (the last two predators are especially dangerous for eggs and chicks) attack bustards of all ages. Also, African warthogs, mongooses and baboons can eat eggs and chicks. On average, out of two chicks, only one survives to adulthood. In case of danger, the female tries to protect her offspring by fluffing her wings and tail in order to appear larger, but she does not always manage to save her brood.

The great African bustard is also known as the Kori bustard. This is a large flying bird, which, as the name implies, lives on the African continent. Its Latin name is Ardeotis kori.

It prefers to live in open spaces with sandy soils, which are overgrown with shrubs and low grass, as well as in semi-deserts and sparsely forested savannahs. It is these natural conditions that exist in the territories of such countries as Namibia, Botswana, some parts of Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. These birds are predominantly sedentary, and only after the rainy season make small movements.

The African bustard is the heaviest flying bird in all of Africa. Males can reach a weight of up to 19 kg, and a length of up to 130 cm.

Females differ significantly from them in their size, they are much lighter than males (almost two-thirds) and weigh about 5.5 kg. Both sexes have fairly long necks and legs. The feather cover of the body has a gray-brown color.

Bustards are large birds.

But on the neck the feathers are gray, longer than on the rest of the body, and have a large number of mottled black and white. The back and part of the wings are brown-brown, the chest and belly are white, on the wings at the folds there are randomly located black spots, the number of which is several dozen. The back of the head is decorated with a long crest, the feathers of which are black. The beak of the African bustard and its legs are yellowish in color.

The flight of the African bustard is a rare phenomenon, most of the time the bird moves on the ground.

Since the African bustard is a large and heavy bird, it prefers to spend most of its time on the ground, rising into the air only when absolutely necessary.

Bustards can live alone or in small groups of 5-7 individuals. They are most active in the morning and evening hours, when they walk in search of food. These are fairly omnivorous birds, but preference is given to insects such as grasshoppers, locusts and caterpillars. They diversify their menu with chameleons, lizards, snakes, small mammals, chicks, eggs, and do not disdain carrion. The Kori bustard can live both near watering places and quite far from water. Its characteristic feature is that when drinking, it does not scoop up water, like most birds, but sucks it up.

The mating season for the African bustard reaches its peak in November and December. Like other bustards, they adhere to a polygamous behavior pattern, i.e. one male mates with several females. Often, males enter into fierce fights with each other. At the same time, they fluff the feathers on the neck, inflate the goiter, lower the wings and stick out the tail, after which they pounce on the opponent, showering him with tangible blows with their beak.

After fertilization, the female of the great African bustard lays an average of 2 eggs directly on the bare ground, after which she incubates the chicks from 23 to 30 days, practically without leaving the clutch. She supplies the chicks that are born with soft food that they are able to eat. By the 4-5th week, the chicks are covered with feathers, but they will learn to fly only by the age of 3-4 months.

The African great bustard is prey for large predators.

Since the kori bustard spends most of its time on the ground, it becomes an object of hunting for many predators. These include