Family Bustards (Otididae)
Critically Endangered
Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis)
Taxonomy
French: Outarde du Bengale German: Barttrappe Spanish: Sisón bengalí
Taxonomy:
Otis bengalensis
J. F. Gmelin
, 1789,Bengal
.
Subspecies and Distribution
H. b. bengalensis
(J. F. Gmelin, 1789) – patchily along border of S Nepal with India, and into lowland NE India; formerly Bangladesh.
H. b. blandini
Delacour, 1928 – Cambodia; formerly S Vietnam.
Descriptive notes
Male 64 cm, 1250–1700 g; female 68 cm, 1700–2250 g. Upperparts and tail buffy brown, vermiculated and patterned black, with broad white panel on closed wing;... read more
Voice
Normally silent but utters a metallic 'chik chik chik' call when disturbed.... read more
Habitat
Flat, moist, open grasslands with scattered shrubs and bushes; often prefers areas of relatively... read more
Food and feeding
Shoots, flowers, grasses, seeds and berries, but also insects such as locusts, grasshoppers, beetles, ants, and occasionally lizards and... read more
Breeding
Mar–Jun. Nest is a scrape in thick grass cover. Eggs 1–2; incubation period c. 25–28 days; chick has rufous buff down... read more
Movements
Nominate race dispersive, with males moving short distances from breeding territories in summer,... read more
Status and conservation
CRITICALLY ENDANGERED. CITES I and II. Most endangered bustard, with a small and rapidly declining population. Severe and ongoing decline mainly due to conversion of... read more
Two subspecies recognized.