Photo: Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Ludwig’s Bustard
Neotis ludwigii
Ludwig's Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) — 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 Ludwig’s Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) is a member of the Otididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 3.3 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 Neotis
- Species ludwigii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 3.3 kg
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Ludwig’s 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 Ludwig’s Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Ludwig’s Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) is a species of bird in the Otididae family, part of the order Otidiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Angola, Namibia and South Africa.
It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 3.3 kg, with a wing length of about 50.9 cm and a tail of around 25.4 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 1 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Ludwig’s Bustard?
The Ludwig’s Bustard is a very large bird that weighs around 3.3 kg.
Where does the Ludwig’s Bustard live?
The Ludwig’s Bustard is found across Africa with a range covering AF Angola, Namibia and South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Ludwig’s Bustard belong to?
The Ludwig’s Bustard (Neotis ludwigii) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Ludwig’s Bustard eat?
The Ludwig’s Bustard is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Ludwig’s Bustard migrate?
The Ludwig’s Bustard is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Ludwig’s 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 Ludwig’s Bustard make?
1 real field recording of the Ludwig’s 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 Ludwig’s Bustard's range?
The Ludwig’s Bustard has a mapped global range of about 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.
Explore more birds
More in Otididae
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Unusual & Unique Birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Critically Endangered