Photo: Becky Matsubara from El Sobrante, California / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
White-bellied Bustard
Eupodotis senegalensis
White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Africa.
Found across 4 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) is a member of the Otididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 585 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Otidiformes
- Family Otididae Bustards
- Genus Eupodotis
- Species senegalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 585 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-bellied Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The White-bellied Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) is a member of the Otididae family, within the order Otidiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 585 g, with a wing length of about 27.1 cm and a tail of around 11.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-bellied Bustard?
The White-bellied Bustard is a large bird that weighs around 585 g.
Where does the White-bellied Bustard live?
The White-bellied Bustard is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the White-bellied Bustard belong to?
The White-bellied Bustard (Eupodotis senegalensis) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the White-bellied Bustard eat?
The White-bellied Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the White-bellied Bustard migrate?
The White-bellied Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-bellied Bustard endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-bellied Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the White-bellied Bustard — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-bellied Bustard's range?
The White-bellied Bustard has a mapped global range of about 4.9 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.
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