Photo: Kannan AS / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Asian Houbara
Chlamydotis macqueenii
Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found on 1 guide in our atlas — open it for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) is a member of the Otididae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 1.5 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Otidiformes
- Family Otididae Bustards
- Genus Chlamydotis
- Species macqueenii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.5 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Asian Houbara is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Asian Houbara is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) is a member of the Otididae family, within the order Otidiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL Middle East to c China.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.5 kg, with a wing length of about 38.3 cm and a tail of around 19.5 cm.
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.3 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Asian Houbara?
The Asian Houbara is a very large bird that weighs around 1.5 kg.
Where does the Asian Houbara live?
The Asian Houbara is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL Middle East to c China, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Asian Houbara belong to?
The Asian Houbara (Chlamydotis macqueenii) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Asian Houbara eat?
The Asian Houbara is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Asian Houbara migrate?
The Asian Houbara is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Asian Houbara endangered?
It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.
How large is the Asian Houbara's range?
The Asian Houbara has a mapped global range of about 4.3 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Otididae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
More in Unusual & Unique Birds
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable