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;[[:Category:Eupodotis|Eupodotis]] afraoides | ;[[:Category:Eupodotis|Eupodotis]] afraoides | ||
[[Image:White-quilled_Bustard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by John Dempsey<br />Photo taken: Etosha, Namibia.]] | [[Image:White-quilled_Bustard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by John Dempsey<br />Photo taken: Etosha, Namibia.]] | ||
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Northern Black Korhaan | Northern Black Korhaan | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| + | Length 50 cm, mass 500-952 g, males slightly larger than females. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Adult male''': Head black with white cheek patches and brown crown. Neck and under parts black; the white collar on the mantle extends to the sides of the upper breast. The back is barred black and brown. The folded wing shows a broad white lower edge; otherwise barred black and brown. In flight, the primaries show white bases. The bill is red with a grey tip; the eyes are brown with a red eye-ring; and the legs are yellow. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Adult female''': Similar to the adult male, but with a brown head, neck and breast (crown and neck barred black), and without the wite mantle collar. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Similar species''': The [[Black Bustard]] is slightly larger, has all-black primaries, and black bars on upper parts are broader; the [[Red-crested Bustard]] has white chevrons on the upper parts, duller (off-white to grey-green) legs, and lacks white on the primaries; the male [[Black-bellied Bustard]] has longer neck and legs, a black line down the front of the neck, paler legs, and more white on the wing in flight. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]] | + | [[Namibia]], [[Botswana]], [[South Africa]]n interior and western [[Lesotho]]. |
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| − | Some authorities place the [[Black Bustard]] and the White-quilled Bustard in the genus ''Afrotis''. | + | Some authorities place the [[Black Bustard]] and the White-quilled Bustard in the genus ''Afrotis''. These two species were formerly considered conspecific, but have been separated on the basis of differences in genetics, voice and plumage (Hockey ''et al.'' 2005, citing Crowe ''et al.'' 1995). |
| + | |||
''Eupodotis afraoides'' has three subspecies: | ''Eupodotis afraoides'' has three subspecies: | ||
| − | *''E. a. afraoides''; | + | *''E. a. afraoides'' from South Africa and western Lesotho; |
| − | *''E. a. etoschae''; and | + | *''E. a. etoschae'' from northern Namibia and northern Botswana has paler upper parts than the other races; and |
| − | *''E. a. damarensis''. | + | *''E. a. damarensis'' from southern and central Namibia and Botswana is paler above than the nominate race. |
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | Mainly grassland (with perennial grasses 0.5-1.0 m tall) with or without scattered trees. Also cultivated lands and pastures. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| + | Forages close to the ground while walking; eats invertebrates, small reptiles, seeds and fruit. | ||
| + | |||
| + | '''Breeding''': Polygynous; both males and females defends their own territories against others of their own sex. One to three eggs are laid on the ground year-round, but mainly September to March. The female incubates the eggs and cares for the young. | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | Crowe TM, Essop MF, Allan DG, Brooke RK & Komen J. 1994. 'Overlooked' units of comparative and conservation biology: a case study of a small African bustard, the Black Korhaan ''Eupodotis afra''. Ibis 136, 166-175. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533 | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Eupodotis+afraoides}} | {{GSearch|Eupodotis+afraoides}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category: | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Eupodotis]] |
Revision as of 08:06, 12 May 2008
- Eupodotis afraoides
Afrotis afraoides
Northern Black Korhaan
Identification
Length 50 cm, mass 500-952 g, males slightly larger than females.
Adult male: Head black with white cheek patches and brown crown. Neck and under parts black; the white collar on the mantle extends to the sides of the upper breast. The back is barred black and brown. The folded wing shows a broad white lower edge; otherwise barred black and brown. In flight, the primaries show white bases. The bill is red with a grey tip; the eyes are brown with a red eye-ring; and the legs are yellow.
Adult female: Similar to the adult male, but with a brown head, neck and breast (crown and neck barred black), and without the wite mantle collar.
Similar species: The Black Bustard is slightly larger, has all-black primaries, and black bars on upper parts are broader; the Red-crested Bustard has white chevrons on the upper parts, duller (off-white to grey-green) legs, and lacks white on the primaries; the male Black-bellied Bustard has longer neck and legs, a black line down the front of the neck, paler legs, and more white on the wing in flight.
Distribution
Namibia, Botswana, South African interior and western Lesotho.
Taxonomy
Some authorities place the Black Bustard and the White-quilled Bustard in the genus Afrotis. These two species were formerly considered conspecific, but have been separated on the basis of differences in genetics, voice and plumage (Hockey et al. 2005, citing Crowe et al. 1995).
Eupodotis afraoides has three subspecies:
- E. a. afraoides from South Africa and western Lesotho;
- E. a. etoschae from northern Namibia and northern Botswana has paler upper parts than the other races; and
- E. a. damarensis from southern and central Namibia and Botswana is paler above than the nominate race.
Habitat
Mainly grassland (with perennial grasses 0.5-1.0 m tall) with or without scattered trees. Also cultivated lands and pastures.
Behaviour
Forages close to the ground while walking; eats invertebrates, small reptiles, seeds and fruit.
Breeding: Polygynous; both males and females defends their own territories against others of their own sex. One to three eggs are laid on the ground year-round, but mainly September to March. The female incubates the eggs and cares for the young.
References
Crowe TM, Essop MF, Allan DG, Brooke RK & Komen J. 1994. 'Overlooked' units of comparative and conservation biology: a case study of a small African bustard, the Black Korhaan Eupodotis afra. Ibis 136, 166-175.
Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ & Ryan PG (eds) 2005. Robert's Birds of Southern Africa, 7th edition. John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa. ISBN 0620340533
