Photo: C. G. Finch-Davies / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Black-bellied Bustard
Lissotis melanogaster
Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) — 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 Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) is a member of the Otididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.2 kg. 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 Lissotis
- Species melanogaster
Quick facts
- Weight
- 1.2 kg
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black-bellied Bustard is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black-bellied Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) belongs to the Otididae family of the order Otidiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.2 kg, with a wing length of about 33.2 cm and a tail of around 17 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 10.6 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black-bellied Bustard?
The Black-bellied Bustard is a very large bird that weighs around 1.2 kg.
Where does the Black-bellied Bustard live?
The Black-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 Black-bellied Bustard belong to?
The Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Black-bellied Bustard eat?
The Black-bellied Bustard is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Black-bellied Bustard migrate?
The Black-bellied Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black-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 Black-bellied Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the Black-bellied Bustard — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black-bellied Bustard's range?
The Black-bellied Bustard has a mapped global range of about 10.6 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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