Alternative names: Somali Black-throated Bustard; Brown Bustard
- Heterotetrax humilis
Eupodotis humilis
Identification
40cm. A small bustard.
- Light orange-brown upperparts with pale grey clouding and minute black vermiculations
- Tail with some thin bars
- Buffy neck and breast with grey wash, clear grey on hindneck
- Black spot below nuchal crest
- Black chin and throat with white spots
- White belly
- Yellow legs
Females lack grey and black and have upperparts coarsely blotched with buff
Similar species
Female White-bellied Bustard is larger and darker and lacks blotching on upperparts.
Distribution
Eastern Ethiopia and northern Somalia. Used to be fairly common in its range, impact of recent droughts and warfare in the region on population unknown.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.[1]
Formerly placed in genus Heterotetrax.
Habitat
Acacia and thornbush; shrubland and grassland.
Behaviour
Diet
Known to take invertebrates and vegetable matter. No other information about diet.
Breeding
Breeding season mainly May to June. The nest is placed on sandy soil, 2 eggs are laid.
Movements
A sedentary species.
References
- Clements, J. F., P. C. Rasmussen, T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, T. A. Fredericks, J. A. Gerbracht, D. Lepage, A. Spencer, S. M. Billerman, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2023. The eBird/Clements checklist of Birds of the World: v2023. Downloaded from https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334207
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Little Brown Bustard. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 20 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Little_Brown_Bustard
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
