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| | ;Tetrax tetrax | | ;Tetrax tetrax |
| | [[Image:Little_Bustard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Steve G]] | | [[Image:Little_Bustard.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by Steve G]] |
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| | ==Identification== | | ==Identification== |
| − | The Little Bustard, Tetrax tetrax, is a large bird in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Tetrax. Although the smallest Palearctic bustard, Little Bustard is still pheasant-sized at 45 cm long with a 90 cm wingspan. In flight, the long wings are extensively white. The breeding male is brown above and white below, with a grey head and a black neck bordered above and below by white.
| + | 45 cm long with a 90 cm wingspan. Brown above and white below, with a grey head and a black neck bordered above and below by white. |
| − | | + | Female is marked darker below than the male. Immature bustards resemble females. |
| − | The female and non-breeding male lack the dramatic neck pattern, and the female is marked darker below than the male. Immature bustards resemble females.
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| | ==Distribution== | | ==Distribution== |
| − | It breeds in southern and central Europe and into western and central Asia. Southernmost European birds are mainly resident, but other populations migrate further south in winter.
| + | [[Europe]] and [[Asia]]. |
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| − | This species is declining due to habitat loss throughout its range. It used to breed more widely, for example ranging north to Poland occasionally (Tomek & Bocheński 2005). It is only a very rare vagrant to Great Britain despite breeding in France.
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| | ==Taxonomy== | | ==Taxonomy== |
| | ==Habitat== | | ==Habitat== |
| − | This bird's habitat is open grassland and undisturbed cultivation, with plants tall enough for cover.
| + | Open grassland. |
| | ==Behaviour== | | ==Behaviour== |
| − | Both sexes are usually silent, although the male has a distinctive "raspberry-blowing" call "prrt".
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| − | This species is omnivorous, taking seeds, insects and other small creatures. Like other bustards, the male Little Bustard has a flamboyant display with foot stamping and leaping in the air. Females lay 3 to 5 eggs on the ground.
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| − | It has a stately slow walk, and tends to run when disturbed rather than fly. It is gregarious, especially in winter.
| + | Diet includes seeds, insects and other small creatures. |
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| | + | No nest is made; females lay 3 to 5 eggs on the ground. |
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| | ==Bird Song== | | ==Bird Song== |
- Tetrax tetrax
Identification
45 cm long with a 90 cm wingspan. Brown above and white below, with a grey head and a black neck bordered above and below by white.
Female is marked darker below than the male. Immature bustards resemble females.
Distribution
Europe and Asia.
Taxonomy
Habitat
Open grassland.
Behaviour
Diet includes seeds, insects and other small creatures.
No nest is made; females lay 3 to 5 eggs on the ground.
Bird Song
<flashmp3>Tetrax tetrax (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
External Links
