Black-bellied Bustard
Encyclopedia
The Black-bellied Bustard (Lissotis melanogaster) is an Africa
n ground-dwelling bird
in the bustard
family. Some authorities (such as BirdLife International 2004) place it in the genus Eupodotis
.
The male's upperparts have black and brown marks on a tawny buff background; the underparts are black. The head is boldly patterned with black, white, and buff. The neck, long and thin for a bustard, is buffy brown with a thin black line down the front that joins the black breast. The tail is brown and buff with four or five narrow dark brown bands. The upper surface of the wings is white with a brown triangle at the base; the flight feathers have black tips except for the outer secondaries. The white of the wings is visible when the bird stands, contrasting with the black underparts (Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
The female is plain buff cryptically marked with darker brown mottling on the back and vermiculation (narrow wavy bands) on the neck and breast. The juvenile is duller and darker, with a dark grey crown and buff spots on the wing. The neck and rump patterns of both sexes, the male's white chin and lores, and the female's vermiculations are points that distinguish this species from its close relative, Hartlaub's Bustard
(Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
Africa (BirdLife International 2004). It prefers higher rainfall than Hartlaub's Bustard and in many areas occurs only following heavy rain (Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
s. In courtship display the male retracts his head to his back, giving "a short rising wheezy whistle, zhweeeeee", pauses in that position, and slowly raises his head, giving "a popping quock or plop followed by soft gurgling" (Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n ground-dwelling bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the bustard
Bustard
Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World...
family. Some authorities (such as BirdLife International 2004) place it in the genus Eupodotis
Eupodotis
Eupodotis is a genus of bird in the bustard family Otididae. It contains the five species, all restricted to Africa. Species in the genera Afrotis and Lophotis are sometimes included in this genus.-Species:...
.
Description
The Black-bellied Bustard is 23 to 25 inches (58 to 65 cm) long. The bill and legs are dull yellow.The male's upperparts have black and brown marks on a tawny buff background; the underparts are black. The head is boldly patterned with black, white, and buff. The neck, long and thin for a bustard, is buffy brown with a thin black line down the front that joins the black breast. The tail is brown and buff with four or five narrow dark brown bands. The upper surface of the wings is white with a brown triangle at the base; the flight feathers have black tips except for the outer secondaries. The white of the wings is visible when the bird stands, contrasting with the black underparts (Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
The female is plain buff cryptically marked with darker brown mottling on the back and vermiculation (narrow wavy bands) on the neck and breast. The juvenile is duller and darker, with a dark grey crown and buff spots on the wing. The neck and rump patterns of both sexes, the male's white chin and lores, and the female's vermiculations are points that distinguish this species from its close relative, Hartlaub's Bustard
Hartlaub's Bustard
Hartlaub's Bustard is a species of bird in the Otididae family. Some authorities place it in the genus Eupodotis.It is found in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda....
(Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
Range and habitat
It is found in woodland and tall open grassland in sub-SaharanSahara
The Sahara is the world's second largest desert, after Antarctica. At over , it covers most of Northern Africa, making it almost as large as Europe or the United States. The Sahara stretches from the Red Sea, including parts of the Mediterranean coasts, to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean...
Africa (BirdLife International 2004). It prefers higher rainfall than Hartlaub's Bustard and in many areas occurs only following heavy rain (Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).
Behavior
In feeding habits it resembles other bustardBustard
Bustards, including floricans and korhaans, are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World...
s. In courtship display the male retracts his head to his back, giving "a short rising wheezy whistle, zhweeeeee", pauses in that position, and slowly raises his head, giving "a popping quock or plop followed by soft gurgling" (Zimmerman, Turner, and Pearson 1999).