Photo: Glen Fergus / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Australian Bustard
Ardeotis australis
Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) is a member of the Otididae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 4.2 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 Ardeotis
- Species australis
Where it lives
Trans-Fly (south-central New Guinea) and Australia (except southeastern, Tasmania)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 4.2 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Critically Endangered
Near Threatened
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Australian 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 Australian Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) is a species of bird in the Otididae family, part of the order Otidiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Trans-Fly (sc New Guinea) and Australia (except se, Tasmania).
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 4.2 kg, with a wing length of about 59.3 cm and a tail of around 30.4 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 6.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Australian Bustard?
The Australian Bustard is a very large bird that weighs around 4.2 kg.
Where does the Australian Bustard live?
The Australian Bustard is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Trans-Fly (sc New Guinea) and Australia (except se, Tasmania), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Australian Bustard belong to?
The Australian Bustard (Ardeotis australis) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Australian Bustard eat?
The Australian Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Australian Bustard migrate?
The Australian Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Australian 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 Australian Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the Australian 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 Australian Bustard's range?
The Australian Bustard has a mapped global range of about 6.7 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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