Introduction
Hartlaub’s Bustard (Lissotis hartlaubii) is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling bustard of eastern Africa. It occurs mainly in open grassland, savanna and lightly wooded country, where its cryptic plumage and cautious behaviour can make it difficult to detect. The species is named after the German ornithologist Gustav Hartlaub.
Physical Description
Hartlaub’s Bustard is about 60 centimetres long and weighs roughly 1.2–1.6 kilograms, although measurements vary between individuals and regions. It has a compact body, long legs, a small head and a relatively long neck.
The sexes are similar but differ in detail. The adult male has a grey-brown upper body, a contrasting dark face and neck pattern, and a dark belly separated by paler areas on the throat and upper breast. The female is generally paler, with a cream-buff head and neck marked with darker streaking, a whitish belly and less strongly contrasted plumage. Juveniles are duller and more heavily marked than adults.
The plumage is well suited to dry grass and open scrub. In flight, the species shows a dark rump and relatively limited black on the wings compared with some similar bustards.
Range and Habitat
Hartlaub’s Bustard has a regional distribution in eastern and north-eastern Africa. It occurs in parts of Ethiopia, South Sudan and Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and northern Tanzania. Its distribution is local in places, and the species may be sedentary in some areas while making seasonal or nomadic movements elsewhere.
It favours open, tall or medium-height grassland, dry savanna, thorn country, lightly wooded plains and areas of high scrub. It may also occur around the edges of wetlands and in open habitats with scattered trees. In Ethiopia it has been recorded at elevations approaching 2,000 metres, while in Kenya it is also associated with lower and drier country. Suitable habitat usually provides both open ground for walking and enough vegetation for concealment.
Where to See This Species
Nairobi National Park, Nairobi County, Kenya
Hartlaub’s Bustard is included on bird checklists for Nairobi National Park and has also been recorded in ecological studies of the park and the adjoining Kitengela area. Open grassland and lightly wooded savanna provide suitable habitat. Look for it during daytime drives, particularly where grass is not too dense and visibility across the plains is good.
Nearby accommodation: Nairobi provides the widest choice of hotels, guest houses, serviced apartments and self-catering accommodation, with additional safari lodges and camps around the park’s boundaries.
Samburu National Reserve, Samburu County, Kenya
Hartlaub’s Bustard is recorded on the reserve’s bird checklist. The reserve’s dry open plains, thornbush and lightly wooded savanna are appropriate habitat, although sightings are likely to be local and irregular. Early morning and late afternoon game drives offer the best opportunity to scan open areas while avoiding the strongest heat.
Nearby accommodation: The Archer’s Post and Samburu area provide safari lodges, tented camps, guest accommodation and campsites.
Tsavo West National Park, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya
Hartlaub’s Bustard has been recorded in Tsavo West, including around the Maktau and Kilaguni areas. Open bushland, grassland and dry savanna clearings are suitable places to search, especially after seasonal rains when birds may be more active and food is more available.
Nearby accommodation: Accommodation is available in park lodges and tented camps, with further lodges, guest houses and basic visitor facilities around Mtito Andei and the park approaches.
Behaviour and Diet
Hartlaub’s Bustard is primarily terrestrial. It usually walks steadily through grass and scrub while searching for food, and it relies on camouflage and stillness when danger approaches. If closely threatened, it can make a rapid, powerful take-off.
Its diet is opportunistic and includes insects and other invertebrates, small reptiles and other small vertebrates, seeds, shoots and other plant material. The balance between animal and plant food probably changes with season and local availability.
Breeding activity is associated with rainy periods in much of its range, although timing varies geographically. Males perform display flights and terrestrial courtship displays. During the aerial display, a male may rise steeply before gliding down with its wings held in a shallow V and its legs trailing. The female selects the nest site and provides the main parental care. The nest is a simple scrape on the ground, usually concealed among grass or low vegetation. Young hatch in a precocial condition and can walk soon after hatching.
Identification Tips
- Look for a medium-sized bustard with long legs, a long neck and a relatively small head.
- The species is usually encountered walking through open grassland or standing motionless in cover rather than perched.
- Adult males show the strongest dark facial, neck and belly markings, while females are paler and more finely marked.
- In flight, note the dark rump, long legs and comparatively restrained black-and-white wing pattern.
- Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) is the most important comparison species in areas where both occur. Pay close attention to the pattern on the neck, rump, belly and upperparts, as females and distant birds can be particularly difficult to separate.
- Identification should be based on several features together, supported by habitat, location and behaviour.
Conservation Status
Hartlaub’s Bustard is currently assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. A precise global population estimate is not available, and the species can be uncommon or locally distributed even where it is regularly recorded.
The principal concerns are the loss and fragmentation of open grassland and savanna through agricultural expansion, settlement and other land-use changes. Overgrazing, disturbance and hunting may also affect local populations. Maintaining connected grassland and savanna, protecting important wildlife areas and monitoring local trends are important conservation measures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hartlaub’s Bustard found?
It occurs in eastern and north-eastern Africa, including parts of Ethiopia, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Kenya and northern Tanzania.
What habitat does Hartlaub’s Bustard prefer?
It prefers open grassland, dry savanna, thorn country, lightly wooded plains and tall scrub, often where there is a mixture of open ground and vegetation for cover.
What does Hartlaub’s Bustard eat?
It is an opportunistic omnivore that feeds on insects and other invertebrates, small reptiles and other small vertebrates, seeds, shoots and other plant material.
How can Hartlaub’s Bustard be identified?
Look for a medium-sized, long-legged bustard with a long neck, cryptic brown-grey plumage and, in males, strong dark markings on the face, neck and belly. It is usually seen walking through open vegetation.
Is Hartlaub’s Bustard migratory?
It is not regarded as a conventional long-distance migrant. Some populations are largely sedentary, while others make seasonal or nomadic movements in response to rainfall and food availability.
What is the conservation status of Hartlaub’s Bustard?
The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its global population is not precisely known, but habitat loss and degradation remain important local concerns.
References
- BirdLife International
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- IOC World Bird List
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