Introduction
The Red-crested Korhaan, Lophotis ruficrista, is a ground-dwelling bustard of southern Africa. It is associated mainly with dry woodland, bushveld and savanna, where it feeds on a mixture of plant material and invertebrates. Males are best known for their striking aerial courtship display and raised red crest.
Physical Description
The Red-crested Korhaan is a medium-sized bustard, measuring approximately 50 centimetres in length. Its plumage is mainly brown, black and white, providing effective camouflage in woodland and savanna vegetation.
Adult males have a conspicuous rusty-red crest on the crown, which is raised during courtship and social interactions. They also expose contrasting white breast feathers during display. Females are generally duller and more cryptically patterned, with a less prominent crest. Juveniles are more heavily mottled and resemble the surrounding leaf litter, grass and dry woodland floor.
The species has a robust body, long legs and a short, powerful bill. It usually walks or runs when feeding and flies mainly when disturbed or during courtship.
Range and Habitat
The Red-crested Korhaan is near-endemic to southern Africa. Its range extends from southern Angola and Zambia through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and southern Mozambique to northern and north-eastern South Africa. It also occurs in Eswatini in some regional accounts.
It is particularly associated with dry and semi-arid woodland rather than open grassland alone. Suitable habitats include mopane woodland, acacia and thornveld, Terminalia woodland, Zambezi teak woodland, miombo, bush savanna and some riparian vegetation with long screening grass. It may occur in lightly wooded areas, but generally avoids dense forest and the most barren desert habitats.
The species is regarded as resident rather than truly migratory. Local movements may occur in response to rainfall, food availability and changing vegetation conditions.
Where to See This Species
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa and Botswana
The Red-crested Korhaan is recorded in the park’s duneveld and thornveld habitats. It may be encountered while driving through suitable dry savanna, although it is less conspicuous than some other korhaans and is often detected only after careful scanning of the ground and shrub margins.
Nearby accommodation: The park provides campsites and self-catering accommodation, with additional guest houses and basic accommodation available in gateway settlements such as Askham.
Kruger National Park, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, South Africa
The species is included on the official Kruger bird checklist. It is especially relevant in the park’s northern and central areas, where open plains, mopane woodland and dry bushveld provide suitable habitat. The species may also be encountered around the Lower Sabie area and other open savanna sections.
Nearby accommodation: Kruger offers camps, lodges, campsites and self-catering accommodation within the park. Phalaborwa and other park gateway towns provide additional guest houses, hotels and self-catering options.
Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo, South Africa
Red-crested Korhaans are documented in the open savannas of the western Limpopo Valley. The combination of dry woodland, open grassy areas and bushveld makes the park a realistic place to search, particularly after rainfall when bird activity increases.
Nearby accommodation: The park provides camps and lodge-style accommodation, while Alldays is a practical nearby gateway settlement with guest houses and self-catering options.
Behaviour and Diet
Red-crested Korhaans are mainly terrestrial and are usually seen alone, in pairs or in small, loosely associated groups. They spend much of the day walking through woodland and savanna, using their bill to pick food from the ground and low vegetation.
The diet is omnivorous. Recorded food includes termites, beetles, grasshoppers and other invertebrates, together with seeds, fruits, berries, green leaves and plant buds. Invertebrates are particularly important when adults are feeding young.
Males gather at traditional display sites during the breeding season. A displaying male calls, rises steeply into the air and then descends dramatically with his wings spread. He may also raise his red crest and expose his white breast feathers. These displays attract females and help establish the status of competing males. The species has a lek-like mating system, with males displaying in dispersed clusters and contributing little or nothing to parental care.
Breeding is linked to seasonal conditions and often follows rainfall. The female lays one or two eggs in a shallow scrape on the ground. She alone incubates the eggs for approximately 22 days and raises the precocial young. Chicks can move soon after hatching but remain dependent on the female while they develop.
Identification Tips
- Look for a medium-sized, long-legged bird walking through dry woodland, thornveld or open bush savanna.
- Adult males show a rusty-red crown crest, especially when displaying.
- The plumage is mainly brown, black and white, with strong camouflage against dry grass, leaf litter and woodland shade.
- The species is more likely to be detected by movement or its distinctive display than by close views, because it often remains low in vegetation.
- A steep display flight followed by a dramatic descent is a strong clue during the breeding season.
- Do not confuse its woodland-associated form and red crest with the more strongly grassland-associated black-and-white patterns of some other korhaans.
Conservation Status
The Red-crested Korhaan is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. A global population estimate is not stated here because a reliable, current figure is not available from the sources used for this article.
The species benefits from its broad distribution and occurrence in protected areas, but habitat loss and degradation remain potential concerns. Agricultural expansion, settlement, woodland clearance, altered fire regimes and prolonged drought can reduce the dry woodland and savanna habitats on which it depends. Conservation measures include protecting remaining woodland, maintaining connected savanna habitats and managing protected areas so that ground cover, shrubs and mature woodland are retained.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of the Red-crested Korhaan?
Its scientific name is Lophotis ruficrista. It belongs to the bustard family, Otididae.
Where does the Red-crested Korhaan live?
It occurs across parts of southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. It favours dry woodland, bushveld, thornveld and savanna with suitable ground cover.
Is the Red-crested Korhaan migratory?
It is not considered a true migrant. Local or seasonal movements may occur when rainfall changes the availability of food and protective vegetation.
What does the Red-crested Korhaan eat?
It eats both plant and animal matter, including termites, beetles, grasshoppers, other invertebrates, seeds, fruits, berries, leaves and plant buds.
How does the Red-crested Korhaan breed?
Males display at traditional sites using calls, steep flights, dramatic descents, raised crests and exposed white breast feathers. The female lays one or two eggs in a shallow ground scrape and alone incubates and raises the young.
Is the Red-crested Korhaan endangered?
No. It is currently classified as Least Concern, although habitat loss, woodland degradation, agricultural expansion and drought may affect local populations.
References
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- BirdLife International
- Avian Research
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