Image via Macaulay Library
White-quilled Bustard
- Scientific name
- Afrotis afraoides
- Family
- Otididae
- Conservation status
- Near threatened
- Habitat
- Grassland
- Wing shape
- Broad
- Tail shape
- Rounded
Where it came from
The White-quilled Bustard, scientifically known as Afrotis afraoides, is a terrestrial bird native to the open grasslands and arid savannas of Southern Africa. Ornithologically categorized within the Otididae family, this species was historically grouped with the Black Bustard before being recognized as a distinct species based on behavioral and morphological differences. Its evolution in these harsh environments has resulted in a bird that relies primarily on camouflage and cautious movement rather than flight.
The bird is characterized by its broad, rounded wings and the distinctive white patches on its wings that become visible during the male’s aerial display flights. These displays are integral to the species' reproductive behavior, serving as a signature signal to potential mates within the vast, open plains. Naturalists and bird enthusiasts often study these bustards for their adaptation to high-temperature, low-cover habitats, noting their preference for walking over flying to conserve energy.
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About White-quilled Bustard
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