Introduction
The Buff-crested Bustard (Lophotis gindiana) is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bustard of eastern Africa. It occupies dry savanna, open bushland and semi-arid grassland, where its mottled plumage provides effective camouflage. Males are especially distinctive when displaying their buff-rufous crest, black throat stripe and dark belly.
Physical Description
The Buff-crested Bustard is about 53 centimetres long. It has a compact build, relatively short legs and cryptic brown, buff and grey plumage suited to dry habitats.
Adult males have a warm buff-brown back marked with darker spots and bars, a pale rufous-buff crown and cheeks, and a narrow black stripe extending from the throat down the fore-neck to the black belly. The crest is usually inconspicuous but becomes more obvious during display. White markings on the wing-coverts contrast with the dark underside when the bird flies.
Females are generally browner and more heavily barred on the crown and neck. Their throat is buff and barred rather than strongly marked by the male’s black throat stripe. Immature birds resemble females and lack the male’s stronger contrasts.
Range and Habitat
The species occurs in eastern Africa, with records extending from southeastern Sudan and South Sudan through Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and northern Tanzania. It is associated mainly with arid and semi-arid country, including dry acacia bushland, open scrub, thornveld and lightly wooded grassland.
Buff-crested Bustards are generally resident, although local movements may occur in response to rainfall, food availability and changing vegetation conditions. They have been recorded from lowland habitats to about 1,800 metres above sea level. Their distribution is patchy in places, reflecting the availability of suitable open, dry habitat.
Where to See This Species
Tsavo East National Park, Kenya
Buff-crested Bustards are documented in Tsavo East, where dry bushland, open grassland and lightly wooded savanna provide suitable habitat. They are most likely to be encountered walking along quiet tracks or road edges, particularly during game drives in open areas.
Nearby accommodation: Voi is the main practical gateway, with hotels, guest houses, lodges and camps in and around the town. Additional lodges and camps are available within and near the park.
Awash National Park, Afar Region, Ethiopia
The species has been recorded in Awash National Park, a dry landscape of savanna, scrub and open volcanic country. Look for it in open, sparsely vegetated areas, especially during early morning or late afternoon when ground activity is easier to observe.
Nearby accommodation: Awash town is the principal gateway, with local hotels, guest houses and lodge-style accommodation available in the wider park area.
Kidepo Valley National Park, Karamoja, Uganda
Kidepo Valley National Park supports Buff-crested Bustards in its dry grasslands, open bushland and broad valley habitats. The species is part of the park’s recorded birdlife and may be found during guided drives or walks through open country.
Nearby accommodation: Accommodation is centred on park camps and lodges near Apoka, with additional guest-house and small-hotel options in the wider Karamoja gateway area.
Behaviour and Diet
The Buff-crested Bustard is primarily terrestrial and usually walks steadily through open vegetation while searching for food. It is often seen alone or in pairs, although temporary gatherings may occur where food is concentrated.
Its diet includes seeds and other plant material, together with insects and other invertebrates. Small reptiles and other minor animal prey may also be taken opportunistically. Feeding is generally carried out on the ground, where the bird relies on its cryptic plumage and alert posture to detect danger.
Males perform conspicuous courtship displays. These may include repeated calls, crest display, wing movements and a distinctive upward flight followed by a controlled descent or tumble. Display activity is associated with territorial advertisement and mate attraction.
Breeding information is limited compared with that available for many more intensively studied bustards. The female lays her eggs in a shallow ground scrape, and the usual clutch is one egg. Incubation lasts approximately 19 to 21 days, after which the precocial young can move soon after hatching and remain dependent on the female for protection and guidance.
Identification Tips
- Look for a small, short-legged bustard in dry scrub, thornveld or open savanna.
- The adult male shows a narrow black throat stripe, black belly, buff-brown upperparts and a buff-rufous crest that is most visible during display.
- The female and immature bird are browner and more heavily barred, with a much less prominent crest and no strong black throat stripe.
- In flight, look for the contrast between the dark underside and pale wing markings, together with patterned flight feathers.
- The species is smaller and more compact than the Black-bellied Bustard. Its crest and male throat pattern also help separate it from the more uniformly marked Hartlaub’s Bustard.
- It usually walks away or crouches in cover before taking flight, so careful scanning of roadsides and open scrub is often more productive than waiting for a bird to fly.
Conservation Status
The Buff-crested Bustard is classified as Least Concern globally. A reliable global population estimate is not available, and detailed information on population trends is limited.
Potential threats include the loss and degradation of dry grassland and bushland through agricultural expansion, overgrazing, development and other land-use changes. Hunting, disturbance around nesting areas and the effects of severe drought may also affect local populations. Maintaining large areas of connected natural habitat, protecting dry-country reserves and improving monitoring are important conservation measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Buff-crested Bustard live?
It lives in dry and semi-arid parts of eastern Africa, including Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Djibouti, South Sudan and southeastern Sudan.
What does a Buff-crested Bustard look like?
It is a compact, medium-sized bustard with mottled buff-brown upperparts. The male has a black throat stripe, black belly and a buff-rufous crest, while the female is browner and more heavily barred.
Is the Buff-crested Bustard migratory?
It is generally considered resident, although individuals may make local movements when rainfall, vegetation and food availability change.
What does the Buff-crested Bustard eat?
Its diet includes seeds, plant material, insects and other invertebrates. Small reptiles and other animal prey may occasionally be taken.
Where is the best place to see a Buff-crested Bustard?
Tsavo East National Park in Kenya is one documented viewing location. Other recorded sites include Awash National Park in Ethiopia and Kidepo Valley National Park in Uganda.
How does the Buff-crested Bustard breed?
The female lays an egg in a shallow scrape on the ground. The usual clutch is one egg, and incubation lasts about 19 to 21 days. The chicks are mobile soon after hatching.
References
- BirdLife International
- IOC World Bird List
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums Bustard Care Manual
Related posts
