Introduction
The Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is a very large ground-dwelling bird of open grasslands, steppes and low-intensity farmland. It is the only living species in the genus Otis and is recognised for the extreme size difference between males and females. Great Bustards occur across parts of Europe and Central Asia, with important populations in the Iberian Peninsula.
Physical Description
The Great Bustard has a heavy, barrel-shaped body, a long neck, long legs and broad wings. Adult males are substantially larger than females. Males commonly weigh about 7–18 kilograms, while females generally weigh about 3.5–7.2 kilograms, although measurements vary between populations.
The upperparts are mainly warm brown, black and grey, providing camouflage in dry grassland and cultivated plains. The head and neck are grey, and adult males develop a reddish-brown breast band and conspicuous white whisker-like feathers on the sides of the face. During the breeding season, males can appear especially striking as they display their white underparts and inflated throat region.
Females are smaller and more cryptically coloured, with less-developed facial whiskers and no strongly contrasting male breast band. Juveniles resemble females but have softer, less clearly defined plumage. The species has three toes and lacks a hind toe, an adaptation associated with walking rather than perching.
Range and Habitat
The Great Bustard is distributed discontinuously from the Iberian Peninsula and northern Morocco through parts of central and south-eastern Europe and across temperate Central Asia to Mongolia and northern China. Distribution varies between subspecies and regional populations, and many former populations have disappeared or become fragmented.
It favours wide, open and relatively flat landscapes, including natural grasslands, steppes, cereal plains, fallow fields, pastures and other low-intensity agricultural areas. It generally avoids dense woodland, steep terrain and heavily urbanised landscapes. Suitable habitat must provide feeding areas, clear views of approaching predators and relatively undisturbed sites for courtship and nesting.
Some populations are largely resident, while others undertake seasonal movements. Asian populations can be more strongly migratory, and some European populations show partial migration or local movements in response to weather, food availability and agricultural conditions.
The species formerly bred in Britain, but hunting, egg collection and changes to open farmland caused its disappearance as a native breeding bird. A reintroduction programme has since been established on Salisbury Plain in England.
Where to See This Species
Lagunas de Villafáfila Nature Reserve, Castilla y León, Spain
This protected wetland and surrounding agricultural landscape in Zamora Province supports Great Bustards in open steppe and cereal habitats. The reserve is known for its important birdlife and has public viewpoints and visitor facilities. Great Bustards may be seen in the wider reserve, although sightings depend on season, weather and disturbance levels.
Nearby accommodation: Villafáfila and the surrounding villages provide rural guest houses and small hotels, while Zamora offers a wider range of hotels and self-catering accommodation.
Castro Verde Biosphere Reserve, Alentejo, Portugal
The open cereal plains and traditionally managed farmland of the Castro Verde region provide important steppe habitat for Great Bustards and other grassland birds. The species is associated with the reserve’s mosaic of cereal fields, fallows and pastures. The best approach is to use recognised viewpoints or local guided birdwatching services and to keep well away from displaying or nesting birds.
Nearby accommodation: Castro Verde and neighbouring Alentejo villages offer guest houses, rural tourism accommodation, small hotels and self-catering options.
Tejo/Tajo International Transboundary Biosphere Reserve, Extremadura, Spain
This cross-border protected landscape includes open rural areas and Mediterranean farmland where Great Bustards are recorded among the reserve’s notable wildlife. The Spanish side, in Cáceres Province, is accessible through the International Tagus Natural Park and its visitor facilities. Open plains and agricultural areas away from wooded river valleys are the most suitable places to look.
Nearby accommodation: Alcántara and other towns in the reserve provide rural accommodation and guest houses, while Cáceres offers a broader choice of hotels and self-catering accommodation.
Behaviour and Diet
Great Bustards spend much of their time walking through open country. They are wary birds that rely on excellent vision and may run rather than fly when disturbed. Outside the breeding season, they can form large groups, particularly where food and safe roosting areas are available. Males and females may remain partly separated for much of the year.
The species is omnivorous. Its diet includes leaves, shoots, flowers, seeds and other plant material, together with insects and other small animals. Invertebrates are particularly important for growing young birds and may also provide additional nutrients during the breeding season. Diet varies with season, region and the availability of natural and agricultural foods.
Great Bustards have a polygynous breeding system. Males gather at traditional display areas, often described as leks or lek-like sites, where they compete and court females. During the spectacular display, a male raises and fans his tail, turns his wings and body feathers outward, inflates the throat region and exposes the bright white plumage of the underside. Females select mates and then raise the young alone.
The nest is a shallow scrape on the ground, usually in low vegetation. Ground nesting makes eggs and chicks vulnerable to agricultural machinery, predators, trampling and disturbance.
Identification Tips
- Look for a very large, long-legged bird walking across open plains or cereal fields.
- Adults have a heavy body, long neck, broad wings and a relatively small head.
- Males are far larger than females and show white facial whiskers and a reddish-brown breast band.
- Females and immature birds are smaller, duller and more uniformly camouflaged.
- In flight, the Great Bustard has broad wings with extensive white areas and a heavy, deliberate wingbeat.
- It is usually seen in treeless landscapes, often standing alert or walking slowly rather than perching.
- Do not confuse it with the smaller Little Bustard, which has a slimmer appearance and lacks the Great Bustard male’s extreme size and prominent white facial whiskers.
Conservation Status
The Great Bustard is currently assessed as Endangered on the global IUCN Red List. The species has declined because of the loss, fragmentation and intensification of open grassland and agricultural habitat. Other threats include collisions with overhead power lines, disturbance at breeding and display sites, nest destruction by farm machinery, illegal hunting and poorly planned infrastructure.
Conservation measures include protecting remaining grassland and steppe landscapes, maintaining low-intensity farming, managing cereal and fallow fields, reducing disturbance during breeding, marking or relocating dangerous power lines, monitoring populations and supporting reintroduction projects where appropriate. Because populations are spread across many countries, effective conservation requires international cooperation and coordination between land managers, governments and local communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the Great Bustard live?
The Great Bustard lives in open grasslands, steppes, cereal plains, fallow fields and lightly grazed agricultural landscapes across parts of Europe, northern Morocco and Central Asia.
Is the Great Bustard the heaviest flying bird?
It is one of the heaviest birds capable of flight. Large males can weigh more than 15 kilograms, although body mass varies between individuals and populations.
Can Great Bustards fly?
Yes. They have broad wings and a heavy, powerful flight. They usually prefer to walk when undisturbed and may run before taking off.
What does the Great Bustard eat?
It eats a mixture of plant material, seeds, shoots, flowers and invertebrates. Young birds and breeding adults may take substantial numbers of insects and other small animals.
How does the Great Bustard attract a mate?
Males gather at traditional display areas and perform an elaborate courtship display. They fan the tail, raise the wings, expose white plumage and inflate the throat region to attract females.
Is the Great Bustard endangered?
Yes. The species is currently listed as Endangered on the global IUCN Red List. Habitat loss, agricultural intensification, power-line collisions, disturbance and hunting continue to threaten several populations.
References
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- BirdLife International
- International Ornithologists’ Union, IOC World Bird List
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