Ludwig’s Bustard
Neotis ludwigii
Karoo and Namib plains. Black and white on folded wing. Dark foreneck and white belly.
EN
Near Endemic
Description
Fairly common near-endemic resident. Differs from [Denham’s Bustard] in dark foreneck, unpatterned face, brown (not black) cap and the limited area of white visible on the folded wing. The call, heard during courtship (Oct–Nov), is a deep-voiced ‘klop… klop… klop’. When courting, the male fluffs out its plumage and inflates its neck, revealing white under feathers, while calling at about 10-second intervals. Solitary or in small groups in semiarid Karoo and arid Namib plains.
Quick Facts
Size
75-90 cm - VL
Names
A: Ludwigpou
Z: iSeme
Ss: Kgupa Ya Mmetsosootho
G: Ludwigstrappe
Bird Family
Large, long-legged, long-necked terrestrial birds, cryptically coloured, with short tails and feet having three forward-facing toes. Most have elaborate courtship displays involving plumage transformations, flights or unusual calls. The smaller species are called korhaans locally.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
