Photo: Francesco Veronesi from Italy / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Great Bustard
Otis tarda
Great Bustard (Otis tarda) — Unusual & Unique Birds of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 10 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is a member of the Otididae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 6.8 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Otidiformes
- Family Otididae Bustards
- Genus Otis
- Species tarda
Quick facts
- Weight
- 6.8 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Great 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 Great Bustard is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is a member of the Otididae family, within the order Otidiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL ec, wc.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 6.8 kg, with a wing length of about 55.1 cm and a tail of around 21.8 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Great Bustard?
The Great Bustard is a very large bird that weighs around 6.8 kg.
Where does the Great Bustard live?
The Great Bustard is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL ec, wc, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Great Bustard belong to?
The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Great Bustard eat?
The Great Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Great Bustard migrate?
The Great Bustard is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Great Bustard endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Great Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the Great Bustard — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Great Bustard's range?
The Great Bustard has a mapped global range of about 4.5 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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