Photo: Pierre Dalous / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Little Bustard
Tetrax tetrax
Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) — 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 Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) is a member of the Otididae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 833 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Otidiformes
- Family Otididae Bustards
- Genus Tetrax
- Species tetrax
Quick facts
- Weight
- 833 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Little 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 Little Bustard is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) is a species of bird in the Otididae family, part of the order Otidiformes. It occurs naturally across Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL sw Europe and nw Africa to c Asia.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 833 g, with a wing length of about 23.9 cm and a tail of around 10 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 5.1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Little Bustard?
The Little Bustard is a large bird that weighs around 833 g.
Where does the Little Bustard live?
The Little Bustard is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL sw Europe and nw Africa to c Asia, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Little Bustard belong to?
The Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Little Bustard eat?
The Little Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Little Bustard migrate?
The Little Bustard is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Little Bustard endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the Little Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the Little 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 Little Bustard's range?
The Little Bustard has a mapped global range of about 5.1 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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