Great Bustard Conservation status: Vulnerable
Great Bustard
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Otidae Genus: Otis Species: O. tarda
Binomial name
Otis tarda Linnaeus, 1758

The Great Bustard, Otis tarda, is a very large bird in the bustard family. It breeds in southern and central Europe and across temperate Asia. European populations are mainly resident, but Asian birds move further south in winter. Download high resolution version (1102x1425, 92 KB)great bustard This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascideiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families  Otidae  Gruidae  Rallidae The diverse order Gruiformes contains about 12 bird families with, on first sight, little in common. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is a standard convention used for naming species. ... A painting of Carolus Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as Carl von Linné   listen?, and who wrote under the Latinized name Carolus Linnaeus (May 23, 1707 – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of taxonomy. ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Genera See text Bustards are large terrestrial birds mainly associated with dry open country and steppes in the Old World. ... World map showing location of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ... World map showing location of Asia Asia is the central and eastern part of the continent of Eurasia, defined by subtracting the European peninsula from Eurasia. ... // Long-distance land bird migration Many species of land birds migrate very long distances, the most common pattern being for birds to breed in the temperate or arctic northern hemisphere and winter in warmer regions, often in the tropics or the southern hemisphere. ...

This species is declining due to habitat loss throughout its range. It used to breed more widely and was extinct in the British Isles between 1870 and an artificial reintroduction to Salisbury Plain in 2004. The British Isles consist of Great Britain, Ireland and a number of much smaller surrounding islands. ... 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... This article is about the plateau in southern England; Salisbury Plain is also an area on South Georgia Island. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The male of this huge bird is 1 m long with a 2.4 m wingspan, and weighs up to 16 kg. It is brown above and white below, with a long grey neck and head. The breast and lower neck sides are chestnut. In the breeding season, the male has long white neck bristles. In flight, the long wings show large areas of white.

The female is 30% smaller and half the weight. The breast and neck are buff. Both sexes are usually silent. Immature birds resemble the female.

This species is omnivorous, taking seeds, insects and other small creatures. Like other bustards, the male Great Bustard has a flamboyant display showing much white, mainly from the undertail, and withdrawing the head. 2-4 eggs are laid on the ground. Omnivores are organisms that consume both plants and animals. ...

This bird's habitat is open grassland, although it can be found on undisturbed cultivation. It has a stately slow walk, and tends to run when disturbed rather than fly. It is gregarious, especially in winter.

External link

• The Great Bustard Project