# Buff-crested Bustard (*Lophotis gindiana*) The Buff-crested Bustard is a large, colorful bird with a fluffy crest on its head. It loves to roam in open grasslands and is known for its unique dance during mating season! - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Buff-crested Bustard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Crested_Bustard_-_Eupodotis_ruficrista_gindiana.jpg&width=800) Photo: frederic.salein, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crested_Bustard_-_Eupodotis_ruficrista_gindiana.jpg) ## Appearance The Buff-crested Bustard has a striking buff-orange crest on its head and a black belly contrasting with its grey-brown back. Its face and neck are greyish, making its distinctive head plume stand out. The females are generally paler than the males. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Otidiformes - **Family:** Otididae - **Genus:** Lophotis ## Interesting facts - Bustards are among the heaviest flying birds on Earth, though they prefer running! - Females lay their camouflaged eggs directly on the ground, not in a nest. - Male bustards inflate their throat feathers to make loud booming calls! - This bird often gets its water by eating juicy plants and morning dew. ## Special abilities - **Stealth Mode:** Buff-crested Bustard has mottled brown plumage that helps them camouflage perfectly in dry grasslands. - **Desert Dash:** Buff-crested Bustard can run extremely fast on strong legs because that helps them escape from predators. - **Crested Courtship:** Buff-crested Bustard males can raise and fan their vibrant crest that helps them attract a mate. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 50-60 cm - **Wingspan:** 100-120 cm - **Weight:** 1.5-2.2 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 35 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 1-2 - **Incubation:** 23-28 days ## Diet & Feeding An omnivore eating insects, seeds, fruits, and small creatures it finds on the ground. - **Primary Foods:** Grasshoppers, Beetles, Seeds, Berries, Small lizards - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Tawny Eagle (*Aquila rapax*) — Juveniles are prey. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Feeds on these insects. - **Eats:** Umbrella Thorn (*Acacia tortilis*) — Consumes its seeds. ## Traits - [Crested](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/crested): Crested describes animals possessing a prominent tuft of feathers, hair, or skin on their head. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Buff-crested Bustard? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Buff-crested Bustard? 50-60 cm ### What is Buff-crested Bustard's wingspan? 100-120 cm ### How much does Buff-crested Bustard weigh? 1.5-2.2 kg ### How long does Buff-crested Bustard live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Buff-crested Bustard move? 35 km/h ### What does Buff-crested Bustard eat? An omnivore eating insects, seeds, fruits, and small creatures it finds on the ground. ### Where is Buff-crested Bustard usually found? Grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Buff-crested Bustard: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/buff-crested-bustard)