White-bellied Bustard vs Savile's Bustard
Eupodotis senegalensis compared with Lophotis savilei
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | White-bellied Bustard | Savile's Bustard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Eupodotis senegalensis | Lophotis savilei |
| Order | Otidiformes | Otidiformes |
| Family | Otididae | Otididae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 54.1 cm (21.3 in) | 48.9 cm (19.3 in) |
| Weight | 934.0 g (32.95 oz) | 712.1 g (25.12 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivore of African savanna; eats insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and green shoots. Beetles and grasshoppers … | Omnivore of open grasslands, eating insects, small vertebrates, seeds, and green shoots. Beetles and grasshoppers … |
| Clutch Size | 1-3 | 1-2 |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Song & Call Comparison
White-bellied Bustard
Loud, low booming call; resonant bass notes carrying across open grassland habitat with remarkable power.
Savile's Bustard
Loud, low booming call; deep resonant sound carrying well across open semi-arid African grassland habitat.
Geographic Range & Migration
White-bellied Bustard
Found in savanna grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to South Africa. Resident.
Savile's Bustard
Found in arid savanna of the Sahel from Senegal to Ethiopia. Resident in dry woodland and grassland.
Conservation Status
White-bellied Bustard
Savile's Bustard
How to Tell Them Apart
White-bellied Bustard
Hispaniolan Lizard-cuckoo: brown above; rufous-buff below; long tail; red facial skin; yellow bill; Hispaniola endemic lizard-cuckoo
Savile's Bustard
Asian Koel: males glossy blue-black; females dark brown barred white; red eye; long graduated tail; no wing bars; strongly dimorphic
About These Birds
White-bellied Bustard
A medium-sized bustard (52-60 cm) found in savanna grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa. Sandy-brown plumage with a white belly. Males have a distinctive black-and-white head pattern during breeding. Omnivore. One of the most widespread African bustards.
Savile's Bustard
A small bustard (45-55 cm) found in arid savanna of the Sahel from Senegal to Ethiopia. Sandy-buff plumage with a short black-and-white crest. Omnivore. Males inflate their throat pouches during display. Named after the British ornithologist Alfred Savile.