MacQueen's Bustard

Right Chlamydotis macqueenii, left Eupodotis bengalensis

The Asian Houbara Bustard ( Chlamydotis macqueenii ), also called steppe Houbara Bustard, is a species in the family of bustards. There are no described subspecies, the type is listed as Allospezies the Houbara Bustard. In Europe, the Asian Houbara Bustard is a rare Irrgast. But it is more common than the Houbara Bustard outside of its range in Western Europe to observe due to their strong migratory behavior.

Description

The males reach a body length of 65 to 75 centimeters and weigh usually 1800-2400 grams. Exceptionally heavy specimens reach a weight of 3,100 grams. The females are smaller and reach a body length of 55 to 65 centimeters and weigh 1100-1700 grams. The wingspan is 135-170 centimeters.

Asian collar bustards are whitish on the underparts and brown on the underparts. A narrow black stripe runs along the side of the neck, respectively. The females are slightly grayer than the males. The similarity to the Houbara Bustard is very pronounced, the Asian Houbara Bustard is somewhat larger and paler.

Dissemination, lifestyle and stock

The distribution area of the Asian Houbara Bustard is the Sinai and the Middle East to the west of Pakistan and the Caspian region over the south of Kyrgyzstan to Mongolia. In the south of its distribution area, the Asian Houbara Bustard is a sedentary bird with only short walks. The breeding birds of Central Asia and Central Asia, on the other hand pull during the winter months in the south-west to north-west India.

Their habitat is dry steppes and semi- deserts. During the turn, it occurs on cultivated land. As the Houbara Bustard is an omnivorous kind that eats next to vegetable material such as fruits, seeds, sprouts, leaves and flowers also grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, and other arthropods reptiles.

The world population is not known, outstanding amounts are only for parts of the distribution area before. So there are in Kazakhstan 40000-60000 and 20000-25000 in Pakistan individuals. The European breeding population is very low: in Southern Russia up to a maximum of twenty and in Azerbaijan live up to ten individuals.

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