Bustard family (Otididae). Bustard bird

A valuable exhibit for hunting. Once upon a time, this beautiful large bird inhabited large parts of Europe, but since it began to be hunted frequently, the bustard has now been brought to Krasnaya.

Bustard bird large sizes, accordingly, is a valuable exhibit. Sometimes this bird is also called dudak. But hunting is not the only reason extinction of this species.

TO negative factors Other factors affecting the bird population include the cultivation of fields, the use of various preparations for cultivating the land, and changes in the landscape familiar to these birds.

Features and habitat

They are sensitive and timid, seeing danger from afar, they run away and hide in the grass. After this they are practically impossible to find. They fly low above the ground, and not fast. The wingspan is 2.5 meters. Those individuals who are in mature age don't really like to fly. Most of their life is spent searching for food.

There are two subspecies of bustards: European and East Siberian. The European bird is distinguished by a darker head color, a dorsal pattern with narrow stripes and a little vague. The East Siberian has a clearer pattern on the back, the stripes are wider and the males have feathers similar to the mustache on the head.

Character and lifestyle

As already mentioned above, bustard steppe bird, usually spends his time in the field, looking for food. Birds do not have sweat glands, so in the heat they lie on the ground and spread their wings, breathing heavily.

Or they hide in the shadows. They also lack lubricant on the feathers, which causes them to get wet. This has a particularly negative effect before frosts, when the birds get wet and freeze and find it difficult to move.

The bird's diet includes various cereals, grass (young boring plants are especially preferred), insects (locusts, grasshoppers) and even larvae. Frogs and mice are a delicacy for them.

After the bird has eaten a hearty meal, it goes to a watering hole to quench its thirst. They are very selective regarding water, so they even place their nests near bodies of water they like, and in winter they consume snow. But they feed their chicks only with their larvae.

On the bustard They can attack from the air. Predators also love to feast on this bird. They are attacked by: foxes and, as well as cats and dogs. Nests are also in danger; predators happily feast on bustard chicks and eggs.

Reproduction and lifespan

Relationships among birds begin in the spring, with mating games. The male becomes mature in the fifth year of his life, it is at this age that he has plumage that can be shown to the female. Females mature much faster; already at the age of 3-4 years they are ready to mate.

Initially, the male raises his fluffy tail up and shows his white undertail. Then he inflates his neck and throws his neck back, showing it for everyone to see. And the last action is to spread his wings so that all females can appreciate him. You can also hear extraordinary singing. Mating games begin early in the morning.

Their relationships are polygamous; during one season, a male can mate with several partners. After mating, the female goes to build a nest, and the male seduces other females.

The female does not dig very well deep hole and covers it with blades of grass. Moreover, they return to the nesting site every year. From April to May, it lays no more than three eggs, up to 9 cm in diameter. Eggs are laid once per season. The eggs are green-brown or olive-colored with dark speckles.

The female incubates the eggs alone for three to four weeks. It is almost impossible to see her on eggs due to her plumage. The chick sits in the nest for only one day; from the second day it goes with its mother in search of food.

If the chick sits in the nest, the mother herself brings him food, and if she sees danger, she screams and the chicks hide in the grass. The female wards off danger by pretending to be sick from the nest, and then attacks the enemy herself. After 1.5 months, the chicks are already flying freely, but the female still takes care of them. In autumn, birds fly away for the winter.

The bustard is very shy, the bird hides and builds nests in dense thickets

The average life expectancy is 20 years. Males can significantly shorten their lifespan if they mate too often.

The bustard is a small species, so that the bird does not completely disappear from our planet, it was brought to Krasnaya. It is forbidden to hunt it; scientists are looking for ways to grow bustard at home.

If employees special centers Those involved in the protection of endangered species find bird eggs in places that are dangerous to its life, then collect them and place them in incubators. After the chicks hatch, they are released into the wild.

The Great African Bustard is also known as the Kori Bustard. This is a large flying bird that, as the name suggests, lives on the African continent. Its Latin name is Ardeotis kori.

Prefers to live on open spaces With sandy soils, which are overgrown with bushes and short grass, as well as in semi-deserts and sparsely wooded savannas. Exactly like this natural conditions are found in countries such as Namibia, Botswana, some parts of Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. These birds lead mainly sedentary image life, and only after the rainy season they 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 size; they are much lighter than males (almost two-thirds) and weigh about 5.5 kg. Representatives of both sexes have quite long neck and legs. The feather cover of the body is gray-brown in color.

Bustards are large birds.

But on the neck the feathers are gray, longer than on the rest of the body, and have large number specks of black and white. The back and partially the wings are colored brownish-brown, the chest and belly are white, and on the wings at the folds there are randomly located black spots, the number of which amounts to 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.

Flights of the African bustard are 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 either 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 they prefer 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 the water. Her characteristic feature is that when drinking, it does not scoop up water, like most birds, but sucks it in.

The mating season of the African bustard reaches its peak in November and December. Like other bustards, they adhere to a polygynous model of behavior, i.e. one male mates with several females. Males often engage in fierce fights with each other. At the same time, they fluff up the feathers on their necks, inflate their crop, lower their wings and protrude their tail, after which they pounce on their opponent, showering him with tangible blows with their beak.

After fertilization, the female Great Bustard lays an average of 2 eggs directly on the bare ground, after which she incubates the chicks for 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 3-4 months of age.

African Great Bustard - 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

Bustards (lat. Otididae)- a family of large land birds native to the Old World, belonging to the order Craniformes. According to genetic studies, they are considered relatives of cranes, from which they diverged 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 species of bustards live exclusively in tropical zone Africa, 2 more occasionally appear in its northern part.

Most prefer open spaces where there is good review over a considerable distance. Some African species, such as Great 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 Great Bustards (Sypheotides) and Floricans (Houbaropsis) usually inhabit areas with tall grass.

Classification

Genus Afrotis
- Black Bustard (Afrotis afra)
- Afrotis afraoides
Genus Vikhlyai (Chlamydotis)
- Wiggler (Chlamydotis undulata)
- Chlamydotis macqueenii
Genus Great Bustard (Ardeotis)
- Arabian Great Bustard (Ardeotis arabs)
- African Great Bustard (Ardeotis kori)
- Indian Great Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
- Australian Great Bustard (Ardeotis australis)
Genus Great Bustards (Eupodotis)
- Senegalese Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis)
- Blue Bustard (Eupodotis caerulescens)
- Black-throated Bustard (Eupodotis vigorsii)
- Eupodotis rueppellii
- Brown Bustard (Eupodotis humilis)
Genus? Houbaropsis
- 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)
- Kaffir Bustard (Neotis denhami)
- Somali Bustard (Neotis heuglinii)
- Nubian Bustard (Neotis nuba)
Genus Bustard (Otis)
- Bustard (Otis tarda)
Genus Great Indian Bustards (Sypheotides)
- Little Indian Bustard (Sypheotides indica)
Genus Little Bustards (Tetrax)
- Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax)

Description

The size and weight of birds varies significantly from 40 to 120 cm and from 0.45 to 19 kg, respectively; The largest representative of the family is considered to be the African great bustard (Ardeotis kori), 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 at the top. Males of the genera Bustards (Otis), Great Bustards (Ardeotis), African Bustards (Neotis), Black-bellied Bustards (Lissotis), Houbara Bustards (Chlamydotis) and Floricans (Houbaropsis) have a feathery crest on their heads, which is especially visible during mating games. The beak is short and 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 finger is missing, which indicates 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 cross-striped, which blends well with the bird clinging to the ground. 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 their wings that are invisible on the ground and clearly visible when flying. Males tend to be more brightly colored than females, at least during the breeding season; The exception is the genus Great Bustard (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) and little bustard (Tetrax tetrax), gather in flocks, with the latter living in groups of several thousand individuals. Desert-adapted species, such as houbara bustards (Chlamydotis), live more solitary lives. Some species gather in groups only during the mating season. They can often be seen among herds of grazing animals, where they hunt disturbed insects and are more protected from attacks by predators.

Only a few populations lead an exclusively sedentary lifestyle, while the majority are nomadic or migratory birds. Species breeding in Asia, in winter time migrate over long distances.

Nutrition

Bustards are omnivores and have a very wide dietary range. However, in most species plant food still predominates. They consume young shoots, flowers and leaves of herbaceous plants; dig up 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., without disdaining carrion. Birds for a long time They can do without water, but if it is available they drink it well.

Reproduction

The breeding season usually coincides with the heavy rainy season when food is abundant. When courting, males of many species make magnificent displays in which they are capable of ruffling their necks, producing an impressive drum trill, and also inflating it like hot air balloon. Small species, especially those living among tall grass, jump high into the air or make short flights in a manner that is noticeable 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 made on the ground, in a small depression covered with herbaceous vegetation. The female lays 1-6 (usually 2-4) eggs over several days. Incubation period different from different types, but in general lasts in a small interval of 20-25 days. The chicks are brood type and are able to leave the nest within a few hours after birth.

African Great Bustard

Birds are the most different sizes and masses. The largest living bird recognized African ostrich. But, as you know, he does not fly. Where does the heaviest flying bird live? Yes, it’s all there in Africa and has a name - the great bustard (Ardeotis kori) from the order Crane-like creatures. The African great bustard is much larger than the common bustard, which lives in the CIS and, by the way, is the heaviest flying bird in Eurasia.

Local endemics

A male African Great Bustard weighs about 20 kg with a total length of up to 120 cm. Females are smaller. African great bustards make an impressive impression: a long neck, a slightly flattened head crowned with a black crest. On the head, neck and belly of the bird, grayish-whitish tones predominate, and on the back, wings and tail there is dense, hard brown plumage.

African great bustards, being endemic, inhabit mainly African savannas, overgrown with low vegetation. Sometimes found in agricultural landscapes. Bustards walk more than fly, so they have strong, thick legs adapted for fast movement By earth's surface.

Bustard lifestyle

They have excellent camouflage ability in the grass. Unlike their Eurasian migratory relatives, African bustards lead a sedentary lifestyle. The flight of the Great African Bustard is something special. It’s good that such “birds” don’t fly around here.

Bustards have a mixed diet: plant and animal food. The diet of the adult bustard consists of green shoots, various seeds and grains, and insects. The need for water, again in contrast to the bustard, which lives in temperate latitudes, in the African Great Bustard is minimal. The coccygeal gland is absent. The life expectancy of a bustard in natural conditions rarely exceeds 20 years. However, there are cases when individual birds crossed the forty-year mark.

Reproduction in Bustards

Pairs are formed only on short period reproduction. Great African Bustards are mating on the ground. The movements of males during mating games are distinctive. The bustard's nest is made in the ground, lightly lined with grass. The clutch contains 2-3 eggs of variegated color. Incubation lasts 20-30 days. This responsibility falls entirely on the female. Having barely hatched from the eggs and dried out a little, the chicks are ready to follow their mother. Currently, the heaviest flying birds are endangered and hunting for them, which was so common in the past, is now completely prohibited.

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Indian Great Bustard Video, Indian Great Bustard Publishing
Ardeotis nigriceps (Vigors, 1831)

(lat. Ardeotis nigriceps) - a bird from the Bustard family.

1 General characteristics
2 Distribution
3 Lifestyle
- 3.1 Power
- 3.2 Reproduction
4 Indian bustard and man
5 Notes
6 Literature

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. On the chest of males black stripe, on the crown of the head there is a black crest up to 5 cm long. On long, strong legs, there are three toes pointing forward. The length of the middle finger is approximately 7.5 cm.

Spreading

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

Lifestyle

gait bustard majestic, takes every step slowly. She holds her head high, at an angle of 45°, which makes her neck seem to be bent slightly back. The alarmed bustard begins to scream.

Nutrition

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

Reproduction

The Indian Great Bustard is a polygamous bird. The male has several females, but he does not take care of the 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. mating season the male dances, walks importantly, spreading his tail like a fan, and screams loudly. His cry resembles something between the snort of a camel and the roar of a lion. Usually these screams 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 you can find two eggs at once in a bustard nest. However, according to ornithologists, this does not mean that one female laid two eggs; most likely, two females from one male laid their eggs in one place. Typically, Indian bustards lay 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, the egg hatches into a chick that can immediately walk. In cases of danger, the female sits on the nest until the last minute, then suddenly jumps out to meet the enemy, loudly flapping her wings. If there is a chick in the nest, it begins to hiss or silently changes its location and sits on the ground. Sometimes the female pretends to be wounded, pretending that her legs are injured and leads the enemy away from the nest, flies low above the ground, while the chick 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.

Bustard and man

Due to poaching, the Indian Bustard has been brought to the brink of extinction. In the 1970s, India began to take measures to save the Indian bustard; it was even proposed to make it national symbol of this country. Some Indian zoos have learned to raise bustards, and 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 / Under the general editorship of academician. V. E. Sokolova. - M.: Rus. lang., "RUSSO", 1994. - P. 76. - 2030 copies. - ISBN 5-200-00643-0.