Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Red-crested Korhaan
Lophotis ruficrista
Red-crested Korhaan (Lophotis ruficrista) — 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 Red-crested Korhaan (Lophotis ruficrista) is a member of the Otididae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 712 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 ruficrista
Quick facts
- Weight
- 712 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Otididae
- Order
- Otidiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Red-crested Korhaan 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 Red-crested Korhaan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Red-crested Korhaan (Lophotis ruficrista) belongs to the Otididae family of the order Otidiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF Angola and Namibia to Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 712 g, with a wing length of about 26.1 cm and a tail of around 14.3 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 2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Red-crested Korhaan?
The Red-crested Korhaan is a large bird that weighs around 712 g.
Where does the Red-crested Korhaan live?
The Red-crested Korhaan is found across Africa with a range covering AF Angola and Namibia to Mozambique, Swaziland and South Africa, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Red-crested Korhaan belong to?
The Red-crested Korhaan (Lophotis ruficrista) belongs to the Otididae family, in the order Otidiformes.
What does the Red-crested Korhaan eat?
The Red-crested Korhaan is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Red-crested Korhaan migrate?
The Red-crested Korhaan is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Red-crested Korhaan 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 Red-crested Korhaan make?
1 real field recording of the Red-crested Korhaan — 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 Red-crested Korhaan's range?
The Red-crested Korhaan has a mapped global range of about 2 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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