Savanna & Woodland Birds Bird Near Threatened (IUCN)

Kori Bustard

Ardeotis kori

Probably the heaviest flying bird in the world — a stately grey giant that walks the plains and rarely flies.

Where to look: Serengeti National Park Ngorongoro Conservation Area Tarangire and Mkomazi national parks Ruaha National Park
Best time: Year-round; display is most frequent at the start of the rains and in the early morning.
Habitat: Open grassland, short-grass plains, semi-arid savanna and lightly wooded country.

In the field

Photograph coming soon

We publish our own photographs rather than stock pictures, so this profile is waiting on a kori bustard image from one of our guides. It will be added as soon as we have one worth showing — the field notes below are complete in the meantime.

Species profile

About the kori bustard

The kori bustard is a contender for the heaviest flying bird alive, with big males exceeding 18 kilograms. It walks slowly and deliberately across open grassland, taking off only when it must, with heavy laboured wingbeats.

The display of a courting male is extraordinary: he inflates his throat to four times normal size into a huge white balloon, cocks his tail over his back and booms a deep, far-carrying note. Carmine bee-eaters ride on kori bustards' backs to snap up insects the walking bird flushes.

Life in the wild

Behavior & relationships

Behavior

Walks continuously while foraging and prefers to stride away from danger rather than fly. Males display on a traditional patch of open ground.

Social life

Solitary or in loose parties outside breeding. Males display to attract several females and take no part in raising the young.

What makes it remarkable

Special features

An inflatable throat sac used in a booming display, and a place among the heaviest flying birds on earth.

At a glance

Wildlife group: Savanna & Woodland Birds
Type: Bird
Family: Otididae
Habitat: Open grassland, short-grass plains, semi-arid savanna and lightly wooded country.
Tanzania locations: Serengeti National Park
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tarangire and Mkomazi national parks
Ruaha National Park
Sighting availability: Fairly common on open plains; usually seen walking singly.
Best time to see: Year-round; display is most frequent at the start of the rains and in the early morning.

Where to see it

Browse every profile recorded in one of these destinations.

Food & life cycle

Diet: Omnivore. Insects, especially locusts and beetles, plus lizards, snakes, rodents, seeds, berries and gum from acacias.
Gestation / incubation: Incubation about 23–24 days; one or two eggs laid on bare ground.
Lifespan: Around 20–30 years in the wild.