Bustard

family of birds

Bustards are land birds of the order Otidiformes. The are Old World birds which live on dry grassland. They have strong legs and can stomp on small prey. They eat leaves, buds, seeds, fruit, small vertebrates, and invertebrates.[1] There are about 27 species in 12 genera. Most of these occur in Africa, two species also occur in Europe.

Bustards
Temporal range:
MioceneHolocene, 13–0 Ma
Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Clade: Otidimorphae
Order: Otidiformes
Wagler, 1830
Family: Otididae
Rafinesque, 1815
Genera
Synonyms
  • Gryzajidae Brodkorb 1967

In some places im Africa, these birds are used as a natural form of pest control, as they also feed on locusts.

References

change
  1. del Hoyo, J. Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1996) Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 84-87334-20-2