Houbara Bustard

(Otis undulata), a bird in the family Otididae of the order Gruiformes. Body length, 65-80 cm. The feathers are sandy gray with dark specks; it has a crest on the head and a collar of white and black feathers on the neck.

The Houbara bustard is found in the deserts and semi-deserts of North Africa and Asia (east to western Mongolia). In the USSR it is distributed from Transcaucasia to Tuva. The Houbara bustard is cautious, runs well, and flies well, although usually close to the ground. Most Houbara bustards are migratory. They nest in individual pairs. Two or three eggs are laid in a hole in the ground. Only the female broods and takes care of the young. They feed on plant bulbs and shoots, insects, and reptiles. They do not drink, as the moisture contained in their food is sufficient. The Houbara bustard was formerly hunted, but recently its numbers decreased drastically and hunting is now prohibited.