Photo: frederic.salein / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Buff-crested Bustard
Lophotis gindiana
Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Africa.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) is a member of the Otididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 782 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 Lophotis
- Species gindiana
Quick facts
- Weight
- 782 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Buff-crested Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open scrub and shrubland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Buff-crested Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) belongs to the Otididae family of the order Otidiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Ethiopia and Somalia to n Tanzania.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 782 g, with a wing length of about 25.3 cm and a tail of around 13.6 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 1.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Buff-crested Bustard?
The Buff-crested Bustard is a large bird that weighs around 782 g.
Where does the Buff-crested Bustard live?
The Buff-crested Bustard is found across Africa with a range covering AF Ethiopia and Somalia to n Tanzania, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Buff-crested Bustard belong to?
The Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Buff-crested Bustard eat?
The Buff-crested Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Buff-crested Bustard migrate?
The Buff-crested Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Buff-crested 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 Buff-crested Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the Buff-crested 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 Buff-crested Bustard's range?
The Buff-crested Bustard has a mapped global range of about 1.8 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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