Red-crested Bustard (Lophotis ruficrista) lives in grasslands savannah across Southern Africa. It feeds on insects and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
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During the breeding season the male ascends high into the sky before diving steeply toward the ground in a dramatic aerial stunt. He aims to land as close as possible to the earth without injury, because females select the male that reaches the ground nearest to them. This risky plunge has earned the species the nickname "suicide bird". The bird remains sedentary, staying within its dry savanna and bushveld home range throughout the year.
When courting, the male's head feathers, normally gray-blue, puff out and a crest rises from the vertex, while the throat and neck plumage swell dramatically. This display is contrasted by the female's and immature birds' brown head feathers, which lack the bright crest.
The red-crested korhaan can reach a length of up to 50 cm and a maximum weight of 680 g. Its folded wing feathers display a distinctive V-shaped light cream pattern with white at the sides, while the breast is black and the legs are pale yellow with grey feet.
The red-crested korhaan builds its nest on the ground, usually hidden beneath grass tussocks or low bush for protection. Each breeding attempt produces two eggs.
Newly hatched chicks abandon the nest after only a few days, immediately trailing their mother across the savanna. They stay with her for several months, learning to forage and avoid predators under her guidance. Full independence is reached after four to five weeks of breeding, yet the young continue to remain with their mother for a further period. This early departure and prolonged association shape their early life cycle.
Sources
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Across the sun-baked savannas, the Red-crested Bustard strides with purpose, its long legs devouring distance as it searches for unsuspecting insects and small reptiles to snatch from the underbrush. With each deliberate step, its striking crest bobs up and down, a vibrant splash of color that signals its presence to potential rivals and mates. As it moves through the grasslands, its very presence seems to embody the wild, unbridled spirit of the African wilderness, a true marvel of evolutionary adaptability.
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