Birds · Otidiformes · Otididae

Great Bustard

Otis tarda

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, with males weighing up to 18 kg. It also shows one of the greatest differences in weight between the sexes of any bird, males reaching twice the weight of females.

Weight

3.1 kg – 18 kg

Size

up to 1 m

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Herd

Lives in large groups as a strategy against predators.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

GrasslandOmnivore Diurnal In herds Near Threatened Bird Grassland

20countries 27parks3same family

Fun facts

reproducciónIt is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, and males perform a courtship display in which they all but turn their plumage inside out over their own bodies.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - pneumatised bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Open steppe, grassland and low-intensity farmland of Europe and Central Asia
Birth weight: Exact weight not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Precocial, with camouflaged down, able to move soon after hatching though unable to fly until 6-8 weeks
Sexual maturity: Female: 2-4 years | Male: 5-6 years
Gestation / incubation: 21-28 days
Litter / clutch size: 2 to 3 eggs per clutch
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 28.3 years in captivity