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Otididae - Bustards

There are 26 species in this family of birds. Most species are found in the grasslands of Asia and Africa, although one species is found in Australia, and a few species are found in Europe.

Bustards are large birds with long legs with long toes, long necks, and pointed wings. Unlike other birds, they don’t have a rear toe, so they can’t perch in trees.

They rarely fly.  Instead, they stride through the grass or stand motionless, looking for food like insects, lizards, and plants.

Bustards are usually speckled or streaked brown or gray on their uppersides. This helps them blend in with their surroundings. They are a lighter color on their undersides.

  • The southern black bustard is found in South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Southern Black Bustard
    (Afrotis afra)
    The southern black bustard is found in South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The northern black korhaan is found in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. It is also known as the white-quilled bustard. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Northern Black Korhaan
    (Afrotis afraoides)
    The northern black korhaan is found in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. It is also known as the white-quilled bustard. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Arabian bustard is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, and Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Arabian Bustard
    (Ardeotis arabs)
    The Arabian bustard is found in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sudan, and Yemen. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The Australian bustard is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Australian Bustard
    (Ardeotis australis)
    The Australian bustard is found in Australia, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Kori bustard is found in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Kori Bustard
    (Ardeotis kori)
    The Kori bustard is found in Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The great Indian bustard is found in India and Pakistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Great Indian Bustard
    (Ardeotis nigriceps)
    The great Indian bustard is found in India and Pakistan. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The Asian houbara is found in China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, India, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    Asian Houbara
    (Chlamydotis macqueenii)
    The Asian houbara is found in China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen, India, Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The African houbara bustard is found in North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia. It is also known as the Houbara bustard. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
    African Houbara
    (Chlamydotis undulata)
    The African houbara bustard is found in North Africa, the Middle East and western Asia. It is also known as the Houbara bustard. IUCN Redlist Status: Vulnerable
  • The blue bustard is found in Lesotho; South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Blue Bustard
    (Eupodotis caerulescens)
    The blue bustard is found in Lesotho; South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The buff-crested bustard is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Buff-Crested Bustard
    (Lophotis gindiana)
    The buff-crested bustard is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The white-bellied bustard is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    White-Bellied Bustard
    (Eupodotis senegalensis)
    The white-bellied bustard is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The Karoo bustard is found in Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Karoo Bustard
    (Eupodotis vigorsii)
    The Karoo bustard is found in Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Rüppell's bustard is found in Angola and Namibia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Rüppell's Bustard
    (Heterotetrax rueppelii)
    Rüppell's bustard is found in Angola and Namibia. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Hartlaub's bustard is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Hartlaub's Burstard
    (Lissotis hartlaubii)
    Hartlaub's bustard is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The black-bellied bustard is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Black-Bellied Bustard
    (Lissotis melanogaster)
    The black-bellied bustard is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The buff-crested bustard is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Buff-Crested Bustard
    (Lophotis gindiana)
    The buff-crested bustard is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • The red-crested bustard is found in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
    Red-Crested Bustard
    (Lophotis ruficrista)
    The red-crested bustard is found in Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. IUCN Redlist Status: Least Concern
  • Denham's bustard is also known as Stanley's bustard. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Denham's Bustard
    (Neotis denhami)
    Denham's bustard is also known as Stanley's bustard. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • Ludwig's bustard is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Ludwig's Bustard
    (Neotis ludwigii)
    Ludwig's bustard is found in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The Nubian bustard is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Sudan. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Nubian Bustard
    (Neotis nuba)
    The Nubian bustard is found in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Sudan. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
  • The great bustard is found in southern and central Europe as well as in Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
    Great Bustard
    (Otis tarda)
    The great bustard is found in southern and central Europe as well as in Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Endangered
  • The lesser florican is found in India. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
    Lesser Florican
    (Sypheotides indicus)
    The lesser florican is found in India. IUCN Redlist Status: Critically Endangered
  • The little bustard is found in southern Europe, northern Africa, and in western and central Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened
    Little Bustard
    (Tetrax tetrax)
    The little bustard is found in southern Europe, northern Africa, and in western and central Asia. IUCN Redlist Status: Near Threatened

Did You Know?

The Kori bustard is one of the species in this family.
The Kori bustard is one of the species in this family.

World Status Key

Status and range is taken from IUCN Redlist

Least Concern
Near Threatened
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically Endangered
Extinct in the Wild
Extinct
Not Enough Data

U.S. Status Key

Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife

Threatened in US
Endangered in US
Introduced

NH Status Key

Status taken from NH Fish and Game

Threatened in NH
Endangered in NH
Breeds in NH (birds)

Location Key

Africa
Asia
Australia/Oceania
Europe
North/Central America
south america alt
South America

New Hampshire Species

No animals found.

Other Species Around the World

No animals found.

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