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Bustards

Bustards are substantial ground birds with strong legs, long necks and broad wings. Their size varies enormously, and several large species show pronounced differences between males and females. Examples include Great Bustard (Otis tarda), Arabian Bustard (Ardeotis arabs), and African Houbara (Chlamydotis undulata). They walk across open country taking insects, other small animals and plant material. Male display may involve expanded neck plumage, specialised calls or conspicuous postures. Despite a heavy-looking body, bustards can fly strongly; the smaller floricans and korhaans broaden the family's appearance beyond the giant species most commonly associated with the name.

How to recognize Bustards

  • Bill: short substantial bills.
  • Outline: heavy bodies with long necks and strong legs.
  • Feeding: walking through open country for plant and animal food.

Where they live

Grassland, savanna, steppe and semi-desert across Africa, Eurasia and Australia support different bustards. Many require extensive open landscapes, with vegetation height influencing visibility, feeding and nesting cover. Seasonal rainfall and food availability can trigger movements, while some northern populations migrate. Ground nests and wide-ranging movements make the continuity and management of open habitat important, rather than simply the presence of one small grass-covered patch.

Species accounts: Great Bustard · Arabian Bustard · African Houbara

Sources — natural history: Wikipedia: Bustards natural history · Cornell Birds of the World: Great Bustard species account · Don Roberson: Bustards field observations and natural history.

Classification: IOC World Bird List: family names and classification.

Some Cornell Birds of the World account sections require a subscription.

Updated 2026-11-06. Species counts follow this site's catalogue. This is an editorial summary, not an expert peer review.

Explore similarities in appearance, feeding and habitat. These comparisons do not necessarily indicate the closest evolutionary relatives.

Species records retain their original English, Chinese and scientific names.

26 results · page 1 of 1

Great BustardGreat BustardOtis tardaArabian BustardArabian BustardArdeotis arabsKori BustardKori BustardArdeotis koriGreat Indian BustardGreat Indian BustardArdeotis nigricepsAustralian BustardAustralian BustardArdeotis australisAfrican HoubaraAfrican HoubaraChlamydotis undulataAsian HoubaraAsian HoubaraChlamydotis macqueeniiLudwig's BustardLudwig's BustardNeotis ludwigiiDenham's BustardDenham's BustardNeotis denhamiHeuglin's BustardHeuglin's BustardNeotis heugliniiNubian BustardNubian BustardNeotis nubaWhite-bellied BustardWhite-bellied BustardEupodotis senegalensisBlue KorhaanBlue KorhaanEupodotis caerulescensKaroo KorhaanKaroo KorhaanHeterotetrax vigorsiiRüppell's KorhaanRüppell's KorhaanHeterotetrax rueppeliiLittle Brown BustardLittle Brown BustardHeterotetrax humilisSavile's BustardSavile's BustardLophotis savileiBuff-crested BustardBuff-crested BustardLophotis gindianaRed-crested KorhaanRed-crested KorhaanLophotis ruficristaSouthern Black KorhaanSouthern Black KorhaanAfrotis afraNorthern Black KorhaanNorthern Black KorhaanAfrotis afraoidesBlack-bellied BustardBlack-bellied BustardLissotis melanogasterHartlaub's BustardHartlaub's BustardLissotis hartlaubiiBengal FloricanBengal FloricanHoubaropsis bengalensisLesser FloricanLesser FloricanSypheotides indicusLittle BustardLittle BustardTetrax tetrax