Great Bustard
by
Shop
Shop
Otis tarda
Long extinct UK breeder being reintroduced in Wiltshire & are very rare wild vagrant with 150 records for Britain.
Breeds in Spain & France, Iberia, East Germany & Poland.
Males are brown above, barred with blackish colouration, and white below, with a long grey neck and head.
The breast and lower neck sides are chestnut and there is a golden wash to the back and the extent of these bright colours tending to increase as the Male ages.
In the breeding season, the Male has long white neck bristles.
Females are buff, with brown and pale colouration over the rest of the plumage rendering it well camouflaged in open habitats.
Immature birds resemble the female.
They are about the same size of a Swan.
The wings have white tips.