"Blue bustard" redirects here. Not to be confused with Blue bastard.
The blue korhaan or blue bustard (Eupodotis caerulescens) is a species of bird in the family Otididae which is native to South Africa. Its call is a series of frog-like croaks, usually uttered in flight. Its natural habitat is plateau grassland, dry shrubland, arable land and pastureland. Its preferred habitat is one with short grassland and flat topography.[3]
Korhaans are ground-dwelling birds with sturdy bodies, large heads and long necks, long legs and short toes. The blue korhaan is a fairly large bird growing to a total length of 50 to 58 cm (20 to 23 in). The forehead and crown are black, while the sides of the head are white. In males, the back, wings and tail are brown but the neck, throat, breast and belly are bluish-grey. Females are similar in colouring but the neck and underparts are a duller grey and the ear coverts are buff. The legs and feet are yellow. The voice is a series of throaty "krok-kau"s, often heard around dawn and uttered during flight.[4][5]
Distribution and habitat
The blue korhaan is native to South Africa and the western fringes of Lesotho. Its range extends from Pretoria and Mbombela southwards to Bhisho and amounts to an area of around 356,000 km2 (137,000 sq mi). It is found on grassland at altitudes of between 1,500 and 3,000 m (5,000 and 10,000 ft). It favours short grass habitats, with a scattering of karoo-type dwarf shrubs, and with termite mounds but few trees, usually within a kilometre of water. It also occurs in previously cultivated and fallow areas, and in winter crops and pasture.[1]
Ecology
This bird is largely terrestrial; when disturbed it crouches down, and on being approached tends to walk or run away with head dipped. It will flush when alarmed however, flying for a considerable distance. It usually occurs in pairs or in small family groups, and forages for insects, lizards, scorpions, seeds, flowers and leaves. Breeding mainly takes place in October and November. The nest is a scoop on the ground, often in thick foliage, where one to three eggs are laid. Incubation takes about 26 days, and the family may stay together for two years.[1][4]
Status
The population of this species was estimated to be between 8,000 and 10,000 mature birds in 2017 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In the Eastern Karoo the population seems to be declining but elsewhere it seems fairly stable. However, according to the IUCN, the area of suitable habitat is being reduced due to grassland being converted for agricultural use, and this is expected to continue. For this reason, the IUCN has assessed the bird's conservation status as being "near threatened".[1]
References
^ abcdBirdLife International (2017). "Eupodotis caerulescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T22692000A118449147. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T22692000A118449147.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^"Appendices | CITES". cites.org. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^Moreira, Francisco (2006). "Group size and composition are correlated with population density in the group‐territorial blue korhaan (Eupodotis caerulescens)". African Journal of Ecology. 44 (4): 444–451. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2028.2006.00656.x.
^ abCollar, N.; Garcia, E.F.J. "Blue Bustard (Eupodotis caerulescens)". Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
^Liebenberg, Louis (1990). A Field Guide to the Animal Tracks of Southern Africa. New Africa Books. p. 140. ISBN978-0-86486-132-0.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eupodotis caerulescens.
Wikispecies has information related to Eupodotis caerulescens.
Blue Korhaan – species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
August 23, 2023
blue, korhaan, blue, bustard, redirects, here, confused, with, blue, bastard, blue, korhaan, blue, bustard, eupodotis, caerulescens, species, bird, family, otididae, which, native, south, africa, call, series, frog, like, croaks, usually, uttered, flight, natu. Blue bustard redirects here Not to be confused with Blue bastard The blue korhaan or blue bustard Eupodotis caerulescens is a species of bird in the family Otididae which is native to South Africa Its call is a series of frog like croaks usually uttered in flight Its natural habitat is plateau grassland dry shrubland arable land and pastureland Its preferred habitat is one with short grassland and flat topography 3 Blue korhaanMale in the Mountain Zebra National Park Eastern Cape South AfricaConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder OtidiformesFamily OtididaeGenus EupodotisSpecies E caerulescensBinomial nameEupodotis caerulescens Vieillot 1820 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Ecology 4 Status 5 References 6 External linksDescription Edit Southern Free State South AfricaKorhaans are ground dwelling birds with sturdy bodies large heads and long necks long legs and short toes The blue korhaan is a fairly large bird growing to a total length of 50 to 58 cm 20 to 23 in The forehead and crown are black while the sides of the head are white In males the back wings and tail are brown but the neck throat breast and belly are bluish grey Females are similar in colouring but the neck and underparts are a duller grey and the ear coverts are buff The legs and feet are yellow The voice is a series of throaty krok kau s often heard around dawn and uttered during flight 4 5 Distribution and habitat EditThe blue korhaan is native to South Africa and the western fringes of Lesotho Its range extends from Pretoria and Mbombela southwards to Bhisho and amounts to an area of around 356 000 km2 137 000 sq mi It is found on grassland at altitudes of between 1 500 and 3 000 m 5 000 and 10 000 ft It favours short grass habitats with a scattering of karoo type dwarf shrubs and with termite mounds but few trees usually within a kilometre of water It also occurs in previously cultivated and fallow areas and in winter crops and pasture 1 Ecology EditThis bird is largely terrestrial when disturbed it crouches down and on being approached tends to walk or run away with head dipped It will flush when alarmed however flying for a considerable distance It usually occurs in pairs or in small family groups and forages for insects lizards scorpions seeds flowers and leaves Breeding mainly takes place in October and November The nest is a scoop on the ground often in thick foliage where one to three eggs are laid Incubation takes about 26 days and the family may stay together for two years 1 4 Status EditThe population of this species was estimated to be between 8 000 and 10 000 mature birds in 2017 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN In the Eastern Karoo the population seems to be declining but elsewhere it seems fairly stable However according to the IUCN the area of suitable habitat is being reduced due to grassland being converted for agricultural use and this is expected to continue For this reason the IUCN has assessed the bird s conservation status as being near threatened 1 References Edit a b c d BirdLife International 2017 Eupodotis caerulescens IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017 e T22692000A118449147 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2017 3 RLTS T22692000A118449147 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 14 January 2022 Moreira Francisco 2006 Group size and composition are correlated with population density in the group territorial blue korhaan Eupodotis caerulescens African Journal of Ecology 44 4 444 451 doi 10 1111 j 1365 2028 2006 00656 x a b Collar N Garcia E F J Blue Bustard Eupodotis caerulescens Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive Lynx Edicions Barcelona Retrieved 26 July 2019 Liebenberg Louis 1990 A Field Guide to the Animal Tracks of Southern Africa New Africa Books p 140 ISBN 978 0 86486 132 0 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eupodotis caerulescens Wikispecies has information related to Eupodotis caerulescens Blue Korhaan species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blue korhaan amp oldid 1114335433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
