Great Bustard

The male of this huge bird is possibly the heaviest living flying animal, alongside the similarly sized Kori Bustard. An adult male typically is 90–110 cm long with a 2.1–2.5 m wingspan and usually weighs from 10 to 16 kg . The heaviest known bird was about 21 kg , although larger specimens have been reported but not verified. An adult male is brown above and white below, with a long grey neck and head. The breast and lower neck sides are chestnut. In the breeding season, the male has long white neck bristles. In flight, the long wings show large areas of white.

The Great Bustard is classified as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Great Bustard, Otis tarda, is in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Otis. It breeds in southern and central Europe, where it is the largest species of bird, and across temperate Asia. European populations are mainly resident, but Asian birds move further south in winter. More

The Great Bustard Group is a British-based charity set up to promote conservation of the Great Bustard throughout its entire range. The Great Bustard was lost to the UK nearly two centuries ago, and the centrepiece of our work is the UK Reintroduction Project, a 10-year programme based around our release-site on Salisbury Plain – a former stronghold of this magnificent species. More

Like other bustards, the male Great Bustard has a flamboyant display showing much white, mainly from the undertail, and withdrawing the head. The Great Bustard breeds in March, and a single male may mate with up to 5 females. All breeding Great Bustards also moult again from June to September. Great Bustard at the Beijing Zoo. Two or three olive or tan coloured, glossy eggs are laid in a small ground scrape. The female incubates the eggs alone for around 4 weeks. More

Great Bustard (Otis tarda) Female Great BustardThe Great Bustard, Otis tarda, is in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Otis. Within its natural range, it is the largest species of bird. - Distribution / Habitat: The Great Bustard is endemic to southern and central Europe, where it is the largest species of bird, and across temperate Asia. More

See Great Bustards in the Wild - See Great Bustards in the wild by booking a trip to visit them on Salisbury plain. More

* You can visit the Great Bustard Reintroduction Project on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. The visiting details can be found on the Great Bustard Group website. * Great bustards need grassland and open agricultural land. More

RSPB The first Great Bustard chicks in the UK * Home Expand Log in Menu item Register Menu item Log out Menu item Change login details Menu item Why register? Expand UK & Ireland Menu item Birding sites Menu More

The Great Bustard, otis tarda, is the heaviest flying bird in the world. Its closest rivals for this title are the mute swan, cygnus olor, and the Kori Bustard, ardeotis kori. Along with the swan and the peacock, weighing in between 18 and 25 kilograms, this bird was considered suitable fare for the nobility at banquets in the fifteenth century. Both the Swan and the Bustard were the most expensive of birds to supply. More

* Great Bustard Project, Salisbury Plain * Green Lane Wood Nature Reserve. * Langford Lakes Nature Reserve. * Lower Moor Farm Nature Reserve * North Meadow, Cricklade National Nature Reserve. * Swillbrook Lakes Nature Reserve * Hide Safari of the week - Aqua Firma Arctic Sailing CLICK HERE TO SEE FULL DETAILS OR TO BOOK. More

Great Bustards in the UK = 15/07/2006 00:00:00 news/great-bustard10 2007 new arrivals Unfortunately only 6 Great Bustards arrived in Wiltshire this year due to a very low number of nests having been found during routine spring and summer argicultural operations in Russia, the only source of Great Bustard eggs to benefit the UK project. More

Female Great Bustard at nest (IUCN Bustard Specialist Group) Female Great Bustard at nest (IUCN Bustard Specialist Group) Press Release - 23 July 2007 - Eggs laid in the UK by the world’s largest flying bird mark huge conservation success, says scientist The scientist involved in helping re-introduce the Great Bustard to the UK is “delighted” that birds released at a secret Wiltshire location have laid their first eggs. More

The great bustard, Otis tarda, of Europe and central Asia, is the largest European land-bird; the adult male may be 4 ft (10.2 m) long with an 8-ft (20.3-m) wingspread and may weigh 30 lb (13.6 kg). The Australian bustard, Chorictis australis, is of similar size. Bustards are stocky birds with long necks and strong legs; their feet are built for running, with flat toes, broad soles, and no hind toe. More

* LIFE Protection of Great Bustard in Slovakia * Project Summary * Project Outputs * Project Site SPA Sysľovské polia * Project Site SPA Lehnice * Project Team * Links * Links to Project Partners More

were obtained for Great Bustard (Otis tarda dybowski) and White-naped Crane (Grus vipio). Multiple census studies, verbal reports from hundreds of herders and hunters, interviews of villagers, and analysis of literature sources made it possible to describe the dynamics of Great Bustard abundance from the 1960s to the present and White-naped Crane for a slightly shorter period.В Researchers also analyzed weather data in Transbaikalia over the same time periods, leading to important conclusions about the relationships between bird numbers and climate. More

The Great Bustard is back in SPA Lehnice SPA Lehnice 12.3.2008 Investigation day of young journalists Jarovce 4.3.2008 Study trip of agricultural university students in SPA SPA Lehnice 9.1.2008 Photo exhibition on Great Bustard in Lehnice basic schools Lehnice 13.12.2007 A new school contest on the Great Bustard Lehnice 6.12. More

The Great Bustard and its Reintroduction to the UK Bustard Appearance and Breeding Season Courtship Food, Habitat and Range of the Bustard Dicover more interesting bird facts and information at The Wonder of Birds: The name Bustard is derived from a corrupion of the Latin Avis tarda, although the application of the adjective tarda is not fully comprehended. More