bustard

views updated Jun 11 2018

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.

bustard

views updated May 11 2018

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).

bustard

views updated May 23 2018

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.