Home › Aves › Otididae › Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
SPECIES PROFILE
Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
Ardeotis
IUCN STATUS
Critically Endangered
CONSERVATION STATUS
Critically Endangered
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Rajasthan, Gujarat, and central India
DIET
Omnivorous
HABITAT
Grasslands, semi-arid regions
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Otidiformes
FAMILY
Otididae
GENUS
Ardeotis
📋 Description
SIZE
Males 1 meter tall, 15-18 kg; females smaller, 5-8 kg
COLORATION
Brown upperparts, white underbelly, black cap in males during breeding
ADAPTATIONS
Long legs for walking, strong wings for short flights
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Grasslands, semi-arid regions
DIET
Omnivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Rajasthan, Gujarat, and central India
REPRODUCTION
Lays 1 egg on ground, incubated 25-28 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects, small vertebrates, seeds, grasses
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, power lines, hunting
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Mating Dance: Males inflate throat sacs ballooning to 30 cm during Desert National Park displays with 100 survivors. Their 1-meter height makes them India's heaviest fliers.
2
Grassland Giants: Weighing 15 kg these birds stride 2 km daily foraging seeds in Nannaj's plains. Habitat loss threatens their 500 sq km range prompting breeding programs.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Desert National Park in Rajasthan near Jaisalmer is a prime bustard habitat
Nannaj Bustard Sanctuary in Maharashtra grasslands near Solapur hosts bustard sightings
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary in Gujarat open plains offers bustard sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Visit open grasslands at dawn to observe male bustards displaying.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
November-March. Dry season enhances visibility in grasslands for spotting bustards.
