The Asian Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata) is a medium-sized bird.
The Asian Houbara Bustard is beige-brown with black markings on its wings. It has a greyish neck with a black ruff (collar) along the side of its neck. Its underbelly is brown and white.
It grows to 55-65 centimetres (22-26 inches) in length. Its wingspan is 135-170 centimetres (53-67 inches).
The Asian Houbara Bustard is native to north Africa, in countries such as Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt. It prefers dry habitats. It is not migratory.
It eats seeds, insects, and small animals.
The female Asian Houbara Bustard lays 2-4 eggs in a nest on the ground. The eggs hatch after 22-23 days. The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching. Their wings are fully developed after about 35 days and they can fly short distances. They become independent after about 56 days.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM