Vertebrate Zoology

The Columbia Encyclopedia,... World Encyclopedia The Oxford Pocket Dictionary... The Concise Oxford... Further reading

bustard

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

bustard , a heavy-bodied, ground-running bird of the family Otididae. Various species are found throughout the arid regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and S Europe. Bustards range in length from 14 1/2 to 52 in. (37–132 cm) and include the heaviest birds capable of flight. The great bustard, Otis tarda, of Europe and central Asia, is the largest European land-bird; the adult male may be 4 ft (10.2 m) long with an 8-ft (20.3-m) wingspan and may weigh 30 lb (13.6 kg) or more. The kori bustard, Ardeotis kori, found in Africa, is slightly larger on average. The great Indian bustard, A. nigriceps, which is a little smaller, is now endangered.

Bustards are stocky birds with long necks and strong legs; their feet are built for running, with flat toes, broad soles, and no hind toe. The species vary in color from gray to brown, and many are spotted or barred above and white, buff, or black below. Bustards live mainly on grassy plains or in brushlands. Although they are strong fliers, they seldom leave the ground. They wander about in flocks of a dozen or more birds, feeding on leaves, seeds, and insects, especially beetles. The males are polygamous and fight fiercely during the breeding season. The female lays and incubates from one to five eggs, according to the species; the chicks are able to fly at the age of six weeks.

Bustards have been extensively hunted for food; they are extinct in Britain and are becoming scarce in the northern part of their range. The more than two dozen species are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Gruiformes, family Otididae.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"bustard." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bustard." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-bustard.html

"bustard." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-bustard.html

Learn more about citation styles

bustard

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

bustard Large bird found in arid areas of the Eastern Hemisphere. Its plumage is grey, black, brown and white and its neck and legs are long; in appearance it is quite ostrich-like. A swift runner and a strong, though reluctant flier, it feeds on small animals and lays up to five eggs. Family Otidae. Height: 1.3m (4.3ft).

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"bustard." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bustard." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-bustard.html

"bustard." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-bustard.html

Learn more about citation styles

bustard

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

bus·tard / ˈbəstərd/ • n. a large, heavily built Old World bird (family Otididae), in particular the great bustard (Otis tarda), which is the heaviest flying land bird. The males of most bustards have a spectacular courtship display.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"bustard." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bustard." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bustard.html

"bustard." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-bustard.html

Learn more about citation styles

bustard

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

bustard bird of the genus Otis. XV (earlier as a surname). perh. — AN. *bustarde, blending of OF. bistarde and oustarde (mod. outarde) :- L. avis tarda ‘slow bird’; but the bustard is a swift bird, and the L. term may be a perversion of a foreign word.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

T. F. HOAD. "bustard." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "bustard." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bustard.html

T. F. HOAD. "bustard." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-bustard.html

Learn more about citation styles

bustard

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

bustard •ballad, salad •collard, Lollard, pollard •bicoloured (US bicolored), dullard, multicoloured (US multicolored), particoloured (US particolored), self-coloured (US self-colored), uncoloured (US uncolored), varicoloured (US varicolored), versicoloured (US versicolored) •enamored, Muhammad •ill-humoured (US ill-humored) •Seanad, unmannered •Leonard • synod • unhonoured •Bernard, gurnard •unhampered •leopard, shepherd •untempered •Angharad, Harrod •Herod • hundred • unanswered •uncensored • unsponsored •Blanchard • dastard • unchartered •bastard • unlettered • unsheltered •self-centred (US self-centered) • it'd •unfiltered • unregistered • unwatered •unaltered • dotard • untutored •uncluttered, unuttered •bustard, custard, mustard •method • unbothered • Harvard •unflavoured (US unflavored) •lily-livered, undelivered •undiscovered

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"bustard." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"bustard." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bustard.html

"bustard." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-bustard.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	The bustard has landed; How a bird as tall as a roe deer and as fast as a... Newspaper article from: The Mail on Sunday (London, England); 6/13/2004
	YOU LUCKY BUSTARD! Hunted to extinction in Britain 172 years ago, the world's... Newspaper article from: Daily Mail (London); 8/4/2004
	New display behavior in male Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori... Magazine article from: The Wilson Journal of Ornithology; 12/1/2007