Great Bustard

It is assumed that there are two more subspecies of this species

The great bustard lives in East Africa, where it is quite widespread. The preferred habitat is the savanna or semi-desert. The bird is not suitable as a pet due to its size and weight. It is a wild animal. It weighs about 19 kilograms and grows up to 1.30 meters tall. Due to its considerable weight, the great bustard is the heaviest bird in the animal kingdom that can fly. If the animal remains healthy, it can live up to thirty years. The plumage is almost exclusively dark brownish-black. On the head, neck and belly, it has a greyish to almost white coloration. There are no feathers on the legs and the bird has three toes on its feet.

Offspring and nutrition of the great bustard

After four to five years, the great bustard reaches sexual maturity and lays an average of one to two eggs. The mating season always takes place after the dry season. The nest for incubating the eggs is simply constructed, usually under bushes or in tall grass. The eggs are incubated for 26 to 29 days. After the young bird has hatched, it is fed for about two weeks. The young are so-called precocial birds. Only the female takes care of the young. After just eight weeks, the young are independent and also find their own food. The great bustard mainly feeds on berries, fruits, reptiles, insects, eggs and small mammals. Like all animals, the great bustard also has some enemies from which the bird must protect itself; these are usually animals that steal eggs or predators.