African Houbara vs Red-crested Bustard
Chlamydotis undulata compared with Lophotis ruficrista
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | African Houbara | Red-crested Bustard |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chlamydotis undulata | Lophotis ruficrista |
| Order | Otidiformes | Otidiformes |
| Family | Otididae | Otididae |
| Conservation Status | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 72.9 cm (28.7 in) | 52.2 cm (20.6 in) |
| Weight | 1875.0 g (66.14 oz) | 617.0 g (21.76 oz) |
| Diet | Omnivore of North African desert; feeds on insects, small lizards, seeds, and succulent plant material. … | 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
African Houbara
Loud, low booming call with hollow quality; deep resonant sound carrying across open Asian semi-arid terrain.
Red-crested Bustard
Loud, low booming call; deep carrying bass notes audible impressively across open African savanna terrain.
Geographic Range & Migration
African Houbara
Found in semi-arid grasslands and steppe of North Africa from Morocco to Egypt. Resident and partial migrant.
Red-crested Bustard
Found in savanna and bushveld of southern and East Africa from South Africa to Kenya. Resident.
Conservation Status
African Houbara
Red-crested Bustard
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.
Red-crested Bustard
A small bustard (45-55 cm) found in savanna and bushveld of southern and East Africa. Sandy-brown plumage with a distinctive red-orange crest on males. Omnivore. Males perform dramatic leaping courtship displays. One of the most common small bustards in southern Africa.