Arabian Bustard

Ardeotis arabs

Bustards · Otidiformes · Legendary

The Arabian Bustard (Ardeotis arabs) is a legendary bustard found in 15 countries, weighing about 5.9 kg. The Arabian bustard is a species of bustard which is found across the Sahel region of Africa and south western Arabia.

Near ThreatenedLegendaryEats omnivoregrasslandscrape nest5.9 kg

About the Arabian Bustard

The Arabian bustard is a species of bustard which is found across the Sahel region of Africa and south western Arabia. It is part of the large-bodied genus, Ardeotis, and, though little known, appears to be a fairly typical species in that group.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

How to identify it

As in all bustards, the male Arabian bustard is much larger than the female. Males have been found to weigh 5.7–10.9 kg (13–24 lb), while females weigh 4.5–7.7 kg (9.9–17.0 lb). The record-sized male Arabian bustard weighed 16.8 kg (37 lb) this makes it rank among the heaviest flying birds on the planet in terms of maximum mass. These birds stand from 70 cm (28 in) tall in females to 92 cm (36 in) tall in males. They are fairly similar in overall appearance to the kori bustard, with a brown body, gray neck and white underside, but are noticeably smaller, with a more elegant, slender build.

Where it lives

Recorded as a rare visitor in Mauritania, Morocco.

When to see it

Best months: January, February, March, April, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in December. It is a winter visitor species across most of its range.

Easily confused with

Quick questions

How do you identify an Arabian Bustard?
As in all bustards, the male Arabian bustard is much larger than the female. Full identification notes are on this page.
How big is an Arabian Bustard?
The Arabian Bustard is a huge sized bird weighing about 5.9 kg.
Where can you see an Arabian Bustard?
The Arabian Bustard occurs in 15 countries, including Ethiopia, Senegal, Benin, Cameroon and Chad.
What birds look similar to an Arabian Bustard?
The Arabian Bustard is most easily confused with the Great Indian Bustard, the Australian Bustard and the Kori Bustard.
Is the Arabian Bustard endangered?
The Arabian Bustard is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.

Learn the Arabian Bustard for real

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