Little brown bustard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Little brown bustard |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Heterotetrax
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| Species: |
humilis
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The little brown bustard (Heterotetrax humilis) is a type of bird belonging to the Otididae family. It lives in parts of Ethiopia and Somalia. This bird prefers dry areas like subtropical or tropical dry shrubland and grassland.
As its name suggests, the little brown bustard is the smallest bustard in the world. It grows to about 45 cm (18 in) long and weighs around 600 grams (1.3 lb). Sadly, its home is shrinking, which threatens its survival.
Contents
About the Little Brown Bustard
This bird is the smallest in its group. It is light brown with white feathers on its belly.
Male and Female Differences
Male little brown bustards have a black tuft of feathers on the back of their neck. They also have a black throat with white spots. Females do not have these black areas. Instead, their back, wings, and chest have many buff-colored spots.
Flight and Calls
Both male and female birds have dark feathers on their wings for flying. When they fly, you can see a thin white stripe on their wings. This stripe separates the dark feathers from the sandy-brown ones. The little brown bustard makes a high-pitched, rattling sound. It stretches its neck out and throws its head back when it calls.
Where They Live and Their Home
The little brown bustard lives only in the Horn of Africa. This area includes southern and eastern Ethiopia, and northern and central Somalia.
Preferred Habitat
These birds like dry scrubland and open areas with thorny bushes. Sometimes, they can be found on grassy plains. They live in places up to 1,500 m (5,000 ft) high.
Life and Habits
Bustards are birds that live on the ground. They walk quickly on their strong legs, looking for food as they go. While they can fly, they seem to prefer running and walking.
What They Eat
The little brown bustard eats many different things. Their diet includes seeds, plant buds, and insects. They also eat small animals like lizards.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The breeding season for these birds is from April to August. The female lays two eggs, and sometimes three, directly on the ground. She then sits on the eggs to keep them warm until they hatch.
Conservation Status
We do not know the exact number of little brown bustards left. However, their population dropped a lot in the 1970s and 1980s. This was due to conflicts in the area where they live.
Threats to Their Survival
Other problems have also affected these birds. There have been droughts, which means not enough water. Human activities like setting up camps, hunting, farming, and collecting firewood have also disturbed their homes. These issues have likely caused some local groups of bustards to disappear.
Current Status
Even though they are still somewhat common in certain places, their overall numbers are going down. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the little brown bustard as "near threatened." This means they could become endangered if things do not improve.
