Kori Bustard

 
Setswana Name:  Kgori
 
Scientific Name:

Ardeotis kori
 

Kori Bustard is a fairly common resident and it is the heaviest flying bird in Botswana. It is identified by huge size and crested head. Sexes are alike but the male is about 20% larger than the female. The Kori Bustard has elaborate displays involving plumage transformations, flight or unusual calls. In courtship male inflates its throat to spread outwards the white frontal neck feathers, the head with raised crest is drawn back, the wings are drooped and the tail deflected upwards and forwards to the neck.
 
The Kori Bustard is mostly grey in color, with a black crest on its head and yellow legs. Kori Bustards are often found with bee-eaters riding on their backs as they stride through the grass. The bee-eaters hawk insects from the bustard's back that are disturbed by the bustard's walking through the grass.
 
The Kori Bustard can be seen single, in pairs or groups in woodland, grassy plains and Kalahari scrub. Kori bustard walks slowly with measured strides and flies reluctantly. The birds have a majestic walk and for their size are remarkably strong fliers. They take off with very heavy wing beats, but once air-borne they fly fast and strongly. They prefer to walk away from danger and only fly if pressed. When in a group, the birds walk in a loose line across the veld searching for food.

 
Kori Bustards are generally quiet, but when surprised may make a sort of bark or snoring noise. They have been observed growling when their young are threatened. In courtship displays, males make a low roaring noise.
 
Reproduction
Kori Bustards are considered to be a polygynous species. During direct courtship of a female, the male will bow toward her with his neck inflated and bill snapping. He may also emit a low-pitched booming sound. Actual copulation lasts no more than a few seconds, and once over, the male leaves and resumes displaying to attract another female.  He plays no part in incubation or in the rearing of chicks. As with all bustards, no nest is made. The clutch of one to two eggs is laid on the ground in a shallow scrape the female has made. The eggs are pale olive in color with splotches of brown. Incubation is 23-24 days. The chicks are precocial and able to follow their mother around several hours after hatching. They remain with her well after the fledging period, which is at about five weeks. Sexual maturity is reached (at the earliest) at two years.
 
Habitat
Kori Bustards inhabit wide, open grasslands, and lightly wooded savanna. They can be found in arid savanna areas where trees are usually scattered. They are usually found near water sources and in areas with light tree cover, where they take shelter from the heat of the day. They do not inhabit entirely wooded areas.
 
Diet
Kori bustards are omnivorous with an extremely varied diet including insects, reptiles, small rodents, birds, carrion, seeds, berries and roots. Insects make up a large portion of their diets, especially when they are chicks. They forage on the ground and are drawn to bush fires where they eat insects killed in the blaze. They are known to consume the gum from Acacia trees, either for the gum itself or for the insects inside the gum. Kori bustards drink water in an unusual manner: instead of scooping up water as most birds do, they actually suck up the water.
 

Many species prey on Kori Bustards including lions, leopards, caracals, jackals, and eagles. Kori Bustard chicks are quite vulnerable to predation and exhibit high mortality rates.