22/05/2026
Bustards and Korhaans of Southern Africa🇿🇦🇿🇼🇲🇿🇱🇸🇸🇿
They are large terrestrial birds. They are known for their preference for walking over flying. The larger species are traditionally called bustards, while the smaller ones korhaan. Male bustards display by inflating their throats or necks to attract females. Male korhaan are famous for spectacular, acrobatic aerial displays.
Kori Bustard - The heaviest flying bird in the world and also the national bird of Botswana.🇧🇼 This species occurs in open grassy areas and males can weigh up to 18kg. Look for them in the Kruger National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, and Pilanesberg National Park.
Denham’s Bustard - Named after the English explorer, Major Dixon Denham. Unfortunately habitat loss is a major threat, with grassland often converted to agriculture. Saw them in the Overberg and Addo Elephant National Park.
Ludwig’s Bustard - Named after Carl Ferdinand Heinrich von Ludwig, a 19th century German pharmacist, botanist, and citizen scientist. Recognized by their dull orange hindneck and dark gray foreneck. They are mostly found in the western half of Southern Africa and inhabit the arid scrublands of the Karoo.
Rüppell’s Korhaan - Named to recognize Wilhelm Rüppell, a German explorer. Rüppell's korhaan is native to southwestern Africa in Angola and Namibia.🇳🇦 Brandberg, in Namibia, is a good place to look for them.
White-bellied Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-crested Korhaan, Karoo Korhaan, Blue Korhaan, Northern Black Korhaan and the Southern Black Korhaan are all the other species that can be seen in Southern Africa.🪶😁
