Arabian Bustard vs Great Indian Bustard

Ardeotis arabs compared with Ardeotis nigriceps

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Arabian Bustard Great Indian Bustard
Scientific Name Ardeotis arabs Ardeotis nigriceps
Order Otidiformes Otidiformes
Family Otididae Otididae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Critically Endangered
Length
Wingspan 107.9 cm (42.5 in) 123.7 cm (48.7 in)
Weight 6733.333333333333 g (237.51 oz) 8187.5 g (288.81 oz)
Diet Omnivore of arid grasslands and semi-desert; takes insects, small lizards, seeds, and green shoots. Locusts … Critically endangered; feeds on insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and shoots in Indian grasslands. Beetles and …
Clutch Size 1-2 1-2
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

None

Arabian Bustard only

Great Indian Bustard only

Song & Call Comparison

Arabian Bustard

Song

Deep, resonant booming call with carrying quality; powerful bass notes audible at impressive range across open savanna.

Great Indian Bustard

Song

Deep, resonant booming call; powerful bass notes carrying remarkably far across open flat Australian landscape.

Geographic Range & Migration

Arabian Bustard

Found in dry grasslands and semi-desert across North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Resident and nomadic.

Great Indian Bustard

Formerly widespread across the Indian subcontinent. Now restricted to western Rajasthan and Gujarat. Critically Endangered.

Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Arabian Bustard

Critically Endangered

Great Indian Bustard

About These Birds

Arabian Bustard

A very large bustard (up to 90 cm, 7-15 kg) found in dry grasslands and semi-desert across North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Sandy-brown plumage with a distinctive black crown. Omnivore of open arid habitats. Classified as Near Threatened due to hunting and habitat loss.

Great Indian Bustard

A very large bustard (up to 120 cm, 8-18 kg) formerly widespread across the Indian subcontinent. Sandy-brown plumage with black crown. Critically Endangered with fewer than 150 individuals remaining. Once common across arid grasslands, now nearly extinct due to habitat loss and powerline collisions.

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