KORI BUSTARD - FOR THE LOVE OF BIRDS

Kori Bustards are large, strictly terrestrial birds and are also the largest of the bustards. Males may reach 18 kg; females are half the size of the males.

There are two subspecies. The East African subspecies (Ardeotis kori struthiunculus) which has a mottled grayish-buff coloration with dark brown vermiculation. The sides of the crown on the head extend into a black crest. There is a white stripe over each eye. The chin, throat, and neck are creamy white mixed with black bands. The under parts of the bird are buff colored with dark brown vermiculation. The tail has wide bands of grayish brown and white. The primaries, or flight feathers, are also similarly marked. The shoulder area has a checkered black and white pattern. The southern subspecies (Ardeotis kori kori) is similar in appearance, but is slightly smaller with minor plumage differences.


The East African subspecies is found in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania. The southern form is distributed in southern Africa in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, southern Angola, South Africa, and southern Mozambique.

They are found in mostly dry habitats such as savannas, grasslands and semi deserts. They are usually found near water sources and in areas with light tree cover, where they take shelter from the heat of the day.The subspecies struthiunculus is generally found at low elevations ranging anywhere from 700 to 2000 meters. The subspecies kori can be found in arid savanna areas where trees are scattered intermittently. Both subspecies are fond of areas where the grass is short and where there is a good view of the surrounding area. Migrations in response to rainfall and/or food supply have been recorded, but the species is not migratory in the true sense.

Kori Bustards are omnivorous birds, although they tend to be more carnivorous than other species of bustards. Insects form a large portion of their diet, especially when they are chicks. They also eat a variety of small mammals, lizards, snakes, seeds, and berries of plants. They have been observed eating carrion. They are purported to eat the gum from the Acacia tree. Discrepancy exists however, as to whether they are eating the gum itself, or the insects that might be stuck to the gum. Kori Bustards are one of the few species of birds that drink water using a sucking motion rather than scooping it up as most birds do.

Kori Bustards are considered to be a polygynous species. Males often gather in loose lek-like formations on top of low hilltops and display for females. During the breeding season, males perform elaborate displays, including deep booming calls, inflating their esophagus up to four times its usual size, erecting neck feathers, and fanning the tail to expose their white under tail coverts. These displays can last for several days and can be performed singly or in a group. Once a female has chosen a male, actual copulation is quite brief, lasting only a few

During direct courtship of a female, the male will bow toward her with his neck inflated and bill snapping. He may also emit a low-pitched booming sound. Actual copulation lasts no more than a few seconds, and once over, the male leaves and resumes displaying to attract another female. He plays no part in incubation or in the rearing of chicks. The breeding season is different in the two subspecies of Kori bustards. In general, A. k. struthiunculus breeds from December to August and A. k. kori breeds from September to February

As with all bustards, no nest is made. Rather, the clutch of one to two eggs is laid on the ground in a shallow scrape the female has made. The eggs are pale olive in color with splotches of brown. Incubation is 23-24 days. The chicks are precocial and able to follow their mother around several hours after hatching. They remain with her well after the fledging period, which is at about five weeks. Sexual maturity is reached (at the earliest) at two years.

Kori bustards are usually found alone or in small groups, but occasionally associate in larger flocks. They prefer not to fly and are commonly seen walking quickly with large strides or hiding from the hot sun under trees. They lack a hind toe and thus are restricted to terrestrial habitats. They have no preen gland, but instead produce powder down and practice dust bathing. Although Kori bustards don’t seem to make regular migrations, they are thought to make small migrations in response to rainfall and food supply. Additionally, adult and juvenile males move after breeding season, whereas females don’t appear to do so