Denham's Bustard (Neotis denhami) lives in grasslands savannah across Sub-Saharan Africa. It feeds on insects and seeds. Its conservation status is Near Threatened.
Fascinating facts about the Denham's Bustard
- During the breeding season the male inflates a conspicuous white throat balloon as part of his courtship ritual. He also puffs up his head and chest, flares his tail and struts loudly across the lek, making himself look larger to passing females. The loud calls and visual display are performed together to draw attention and secure a mate. This elaborate performance is the hallmark of the species' breeding behaviour.
- Denham's bustard shows striking sexual size dimorphism, with males weighing 9 to 10 kg and measuring 100-116 cm, while females are only 3 to 4 kg and 80-87 cm long. The male is the largest bird in the genus Neotis, yet still smaller than bustards of the genus Ardeotis. This size gap means the male can be more than twice as heavy as the female, giving him a visual advantage during displays.
- The bustard's diet is highly opportunistic, ranging from insects and small snakes to rodents, bird nestlings and green plants. It will sometimes follow grazing mammals to pick dung beetles from their droppings.
- The nominate subspecies N. denhami stretches from southwestern Mauritania through Senegal and Gambia to Uganda and Ethiopia, covering a broad swath of sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three geographically separate subspecies and inhabits open ground such as savanna, flood-plains, burnt fynbos and grassland.
- Unlike many bustards, Denham's bustard is largely silent, vocalising only during the male's display. Outside the breeding season the bird is usually quiet, but on a lek the male inflates a white throat balloon, puffs his head and chest, flares his tail and struts loudly to attract females. He calls loudly while performing this conspicuous display, providing the only regular sound the species makes.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSub-Saharan Africa
HabitatGrasslands savannah
DietInsects and seeds
About the Denham's Bustard
In the sun-baked savannas, the Denham's Bustard reigns as a majestic and elusive figure, its long legs striding purposefully across the grasslands as it searches for unsuspecting insects and small reptiles to snatch up in its swift, stabbing beak. With each deliberate step, the bustard's elegant feathers rustle softly in the breeze, a subtle whisper of movement that belies the powerful wings that can launch it into a swift, soaring flight at a moment's notice. As it moves through its domain, the Denham's Bustard embodies a quiet, unassuming beauty, its very existence a poignant reminder of the fragile balance of the natural world.
Hear the Denham's Bustard, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
