African houbara
The Houbara bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) is a terrestrial bird native to North Africa. There is a population in the Canary Islands that is highly restricted and endangered and has been assessed as Near Threatened in 2015.
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CrepuscularCrepuscular animals are those that are active primarily during twilight (that is, the periods of dawn and dusk). This is distinguished from diurnal...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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CongregatoryCongregatory animals tend to gather in large numbers in specific areas as breeding colonies, for feeding, or for resting.
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PolygynyPolygyny is a mating system in which one male lives and mates with multiple females but each female only mates with a single male.
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Partial MigrantPartial migration is when within a migratory species or even within a single population, some individuals migrate while others do not.
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withHoubara bustards are small to mid-sized birds. They are brown above and white below, with a black stripe down the sides of their necks. In flight, their long wings show large areas of black and brown on the flight feathers. The sexes look similar, but the females are smaller and greyer above than the males.
Houbara bustards are found in North Africa west of the Nile, mainly in the western part of the Sahara desert region in Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Pakistan, and Egypt. Some old records exist from Sudan as well. A small population is found in the Canary Islands. The North African species is sedentary or partially migratory and may move relatively short distances in search of recent plant growth. Houbara bustards live in arid areas such as sandy and stony semi-deserts, and dry grasslands and can also visit pasturelands.
Houbara bustards are usually active early in the morning and at dusk. They spend most of their time on the ground walking steadily on strong legs and big toes, pecking for food as they go. Most prefer to run or walk over flying. These birds prefer to be on their own but may sometimes gather in groups while foraging. When Houbara bustards sense danger, they will lay on the ground and blend in with the environment hoping to stay unnoticed. They are usually silent and hardly ever produce sounds.
Houbara bustards are omnivorous birds that take seeds, insects, earthworms, and other small creatures.
Houbara bustards have a polygynous mating system and don’t form pairs. During the breeding season, they perform a flamboyant display raising the white feathers of the head and neck and withdrawing the head. Females lay 2 to 4 eggs on the ground. The incubation period lasts around 24 days and the chicks usually fledge approximately 35 days after hatching.
The main threats to Houbara bustards include hunting, habitat loss, egg collection, human disturbances, poisoning, floods or draughts, collisions with powerlines, and in some regions military exercises.
According to IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Houbara bustard is around 13,000-33,000 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are decreasing.
