The kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) is the heaviest flying bird in Africa, weighing as much as 19 kg. It is a large, ground-dwelling omnivore with long, thin legs and a black stripe behind each eye, found in open woodland and lightly wooded savanna in Southern Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Ethiopia and Namibia.
Name
Kori Bustard [Ardeotis kori]
Appearance
The Kori Bustard is a rather large bird and is the heaviest flying bird in Africa. The Kori has long, thin and bony legs with long feet that ends with three ‘fingers’. The Kori has a mainly grey-brown body, with a finely patterned greyish neck and upperparts, white underparts and yellowish legs. They have a black stripe that stretches behind their eyes, looking like a bad eyeliner job. The Kori has a black tuft that lays over backwards. The Kori can weigh an astounding 19kg.
Diet
The Kori Bustard is an omnivorous bird that feeds on plant life like berries and meat, like lizards, small birds and snakes. The young feed on a diet of insects and slowly learn to eat different types of food as they grow older. These birds have been known to feed on gum from acacia trees, though it is not known if they directly feed on the gum, or the insects that consume the gum. The Kori drinks water very differently in comparison to other birds. The Kori drinks using a sucking action, instead of a normal scooping method other birds use.
Breeding
Kori Bustards are Polygynous birds. The male will perform a mating dance by inflating its neck and trailing its wings. Other forms of the mating dance include the male ruffling up its feathers so it appears as a big white ball, bowing in front of the female and even making loud booming sounds. Reproducing occurs once a year, the male takes no responsibility in raising the young, The female rarely leaves the nest, only when she needs to feed. Females barely do any effort in making nests, when they don’t make a nest, they lay their eggs on the ground.
Behaviour
The Kori Bustard is a ground dwelling bird. Because of their very heavy nature and build, Kori’s rarely fly and only when necessary. The Kori has a long-life span and breeds slowly and are known to stay in the same areas where food is good.
Habitat
The Kori Bustard prefers open woodland areas as well as lightly wooded savannah. The Kori is found in savannah locations where the trees are scattered and are fond of grass lands with beautiful scenery. They can be found in Southern Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Ethiopia and Namibia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a kori bustard eat?
The kori bustard eats berries and other plants as well as lizards, small birds and snakes. Young birds start on insects and learn to eat other foods as they grow. Koris have been seen feeding on acacia gum, though it is not known whether they eat the gum or the insects that feed on it.
Can kori bustards fly?
Yes, but rarely. The kori bustard is a ground-dwelling bird, and because of its very heavy build it flies only when necessary.
How does a kori bustard drink water?
By sucking. Unlike other birds, which drink with a normal scooping method, the kori bustard drinks water using a sucking action.
How does a male kori bustard attract a female?
With a mating display. The male inflates his neck and trails his wings, ruffles his feathers until he looks like a big white ball, bows in front of the female and makes loud booming sounds.
Do kori bustards build nests?
Barely. Kori bustards breed once a year, and the female puts little effort into nest building, sometimes laying her eggs on the bare ground. She rarely leaves the nest except to feed, and the male, which mates with several females, takes no part in raising the young.
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