Savile's Bustard

The Saviletrappe ( Lophotis savilei ) is a little-known species of bird in the bustard family. It was considered at times as a subspecies of Rotschopftrappe ( Lophotis ruficrista ). Some taxonomists place them in the genus Eupodotis.

Features

The Saviletrappe reached a size of 42 centimeters. About the weight has no information. It is smaller than the Oustalettrappe ( Lophotis gindiana ) and Rotschopftrappe. The head is less gray in color than the Rotschopftrappe. The throat is blacker and the chest is less colored than in the white Oustalettrappe. The top is more reddish sand color and the tan - V marks the Rotschopftrappe are almost absent in the Saviletrappe. Head and neck of the female have a cinnamon touch.

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. The distribution of Saviletrappe extends from southwestern Mauritania Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger, northeastern Nigeria to Chad and Central Sudan.

Habitat

The Saviletrappe inhabited bushes and bright woodlands, thickets beside dried ponds, land clearing and flat bush country that is dominated by grasses of the genus Aristida and acacia.

Way of life

About the behavior of Saviletrappe in search of food has no information. It is probably similar to that of Rotschopftrappe. In the western part of the range of the breeding season is from September to October. In Chad, the breeding activity was during the wet season from June to August and in Sudan birds were observed in breeding readiness from July to September. The nesting behavior apparently similar to the Rotschopftrappe. The Saviletrappe is usually site- faithful, but it is during the dry season (December to May), a visitor in the W National Park in Niger. During the rains it breeds north outside Nigeria.

Status

About the population status are just a few information. The Saviletrappe to be fairly common throughout the range. In Nigeria, it is not common and there limited to the northwest of the country. It is listed in Appendix II of CITES and BirdLife International in the category " not at risk " ( least concern ) classified.