African Houbara vs Heuglin's Bustard
Chlamydotis undulata compared with Neotis heuglinii
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Houbara | Heuglin's Bustard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlamydotis undulata | Neotis heuglinii |
| Order | Otidiformes | Otidiformes |
| Family | Otididae | Otididae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 72.9 cm (28.7 in) | 91.7 cm (36.1 in) |
| Weight | 1875.0 g (66.14 oz) | 4400.0 g (155.21 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivore of North African desert; feeds on insects, small lizards, seeds, and succulent plant material. … | Omnivore of East African open grasslands; eats insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and shoots. Beetles and … |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
African Houbara
Loud, low booming call with hollow quality; deep resonant sound carrying across open Asian semi-arid terrain.
Heuglin's Bustard
Loud, rough barking call with guttural quality; deep resonant notes carrying well across open arid terrain.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Houbara
Found in semi-arid grasslands and steppe of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. Resident and partial migrant.
Heuglin's Bustard
Found in semi-arid grasslands of the Horn of Africa from Djibouti to northern Kenya. Resident.
Conservation Status
African Houbara
Heuglin's Bustard
How to Tell Them Apart
African Houbara
Dark-billed Cuckoo: dark bill; dark brown above; pale buff below; graduated tail; South American relative of Black-billed Cuckoo
Heuglin's Bustard
Thick-billed Cuckoo (alt): heavy bill; dark brown above; pale buff below; long graduated tail; island cuckoo species; robust bill
About These Birds
African Houbara
A medium-sized bustard (55-65 cm) found in semi-arid grasslands and steppe of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. Sandy-buff plumage with intricate black markings. Omnivore. Classified as Vulnerable due to hunting and habitat loss. Known for its spectacular courtship display.
Heuglin's Bustard
A large bustard (70-85 cm) found in semi-arid grasslands of the Horn of Africa and adjacent regions. Sandy-brown plumage. Omnivore. Named after the German explorer Theodor von Heuglin. Found in Somalia, Ethiopia, and northern Kenya.