Red-crested Korhaan

The Rotschopftrappe ( Lophotis ruficrista ) is a species of bird in the bustard family. It occurs in southern Africa and is closely related to the Saviletrappe from the Sahel and the East African Oustalettrappe. The three forms are sometimes combined into a single type.

Features

The Rotschopftrappe is about 50 cm long and reaches a body weight of approximately 680 g The top is adorned with eye-catching, cream-colored, V- shaped marks that produce a mottled effect. The eponymous, red crested neck of the males is visible only in the erect state. The front of the neck is gray, the beige back, the abdomen is black. The beak is greyish, yellowish legs.

The Rotschopftrappe differs from the Oustalettrappe and Saviletrappe by the larger amount of gray on the head and the paler top. The females are similar to males, but in them the gray interests in the head and neck are replaced by brown sections. Female Gackeltrappen they can be distinguished by the V- shaped marks and the absence of the black face drawing.

Occurrence

The distribution of Rotschopftrappe extends in a band over the southern Africa. It ranges from southern Angola and Namibia in the north- west by Botswana, southwest Zambia and Zimbabwe to the east, Mozambique, and northern South Africa and Swaziland.

Habitat

Rotschopftrappen inhabit thorny terrain, as well as other dry savannah and near-shore vegetation types. In Botswana, the animals are most commonly found in Acacia and Terminalia - savannah. In more open areas, they are represented by the white wing Trappe. In the south of the Kalahari, however, occurs a population of Rotschopftrappe who lives in treeless, grassy dunes. This population also differs by the songs from the rest of the article

Way of life

The Rotschopftrappe is a state bird. Relatively little is known about their dietary habits. The animals feed primarily on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, termites and ants, and other small arthropods. In addition, berries, seeds, and tree resins are eaten. The breeding season lasts from October to April. In the Transvaal the highlight is in the months of October and November. The nest is created on the ground and is often located near a small tree or shrub. The nest usually includes 1-2 eggs.

Inventory and risk

In large parts of the range the Rotschopftrappe is still widespread, such as in the Transvaal and Botswana. In Zimbabwe, where the species is also still relatively common, the strong grazing of many tracts of land could have caused some local declines in Rotschopftrappenbestände.