The name “bustard” refers to a group of large, ground-dwelling birds found across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. There are over 20 species of bustards, all belonging to the Otididae family. Some of the most well-known species include the great bustard, houbara bustard, and kori bustard. But why are these birds called “bustards” in the first place? Read on to learn about the possible origins of this peculiar name.
What are bustards?
Bustards are distinctive, often spectacular-looking birds with long legs, a stately gait, and cryptic plumage patterns that allow them to blend into grasslands. They are mostly associated with dry, open habitats such as steppes, prairies, and savannahs. Bustards are omnivorous, feeding on a variety of small animals, seeds, shoots, and fruit. They make a range of booming, grunting, and bellowing calls, especially during breeding season.
Many bustard populations are unfortunately in decline due to habitat loss, hunting, and disturbance. However, they remain important components of grassland ecosystems, and some species are revered culturally – like the great bustard in Spain and the houbara bustard in North Africa and the Middle East.
Physical characteristics
Bustards are heavily built birds with long, thick necks and sizable legs. They range in length from the diminutive little bustard at 30 cm to the 1 m tall kori bustard. Most species exhibit sexual dimorphism, with males being larger and more colorful than females.
Plumage patterns are cryptic, helping bustards stay concealed in open habitats. Coloration ranges from grayish-browns to black and white, sometimes with intricate spotting or barring. During breeding displays, males may reveal striking patterns of black, white, rufous, and gray.
Etymology and history of “bustard”
So what accounts for the name “bustard” assigned to these birds? There are a few major theories regarding the etymological roots of the word:
Origin from Latin
One possibility is that “bustard” derives from the Latin term “avis tarda” meaning “slow bird”. This would be an apt descriptor for these ground-dwelling, methodical walkers. Early European naturalists like Carl Linnaeus may have adapted this Latin phrase into “bustard” when assigning scientific names.
Link to Old French
Alternatively, “bustard” may stem from old French and medieval Latin words. In old French, these birds were called “bistarde”. This may have derived from the Latin “avis tarda”, or been linked to the word “bistort” meaning “twisted” which described the bustard’s ostensibly twisted neck.
Imitation of the bird’s call
There is also a theory that “bustard” aims to phonetically imitate some of the low, booming calls made by these birds on their breeding grounds. Males often produce guttural bellows to attract mates and defend territories – perhaps inspiring the “bustard” moniker.
Ancient Greek or Arabic roots
One more proposal around the origins of “bustard” traces back to Ancient Greek or Arabic words for flying insects or winged beetles. This may metaphorically connect the bustard’s stately, strutting gait to the movement of beetles.
Historical significance
Beyond investigations into the name itself, bustards have had surprisingly significant roles in human history, culture, and mythology over the centuries:
Food and sport hunting
Bustards have been hunted as game and food items since prehistoric times. Cave paintings in Spain depict Paleolithic hunting scenes focused on bustards. Ancient Romans viewed bustard tongues as a delicacy. Bustards have been part of ArabBedouin falconry for millennia, and still are today.
Superstitions and omens
In some Western cultures, encountering bustards was traditionally seen as an omen – either of misfortune, or of future marriage. Greek mythology also included myths of metamorphosis featuring transforming into a bustard as a key plot element.
Symbolism and rituals
The bustard features significantly in Nigerian indigenous religion among the Yoruba people. Bustard feathers and body parts are used in traditional Yoruba rituals and ceremonies.
Decline and conservation
Most bustard species are now red-listed as threatened or endangered by the IUCN. Habitat loss from agriculture, overhunting, collisions with power lines, and other factors have caused bustard declines worldwide. However intensive conservation programs for some species like the great bustard have helped stabilize populations.
Unique traits among the bustards
Beyond their obscurity to most people, bustards have some remarkable and unique traits among birds:
Flightless species
The kori bustard, weighing up to 19kg, is the heaviest flying bird. But some bustards, like the Kori bustard’s close relative the giant bustard, gave up flight altogether around one million years ago. The giant bustard is larger and stockier, at around 16kg.
Extreme sexual dimorphism
Across bustard species, males and females often look very different. Males exhibit “sexual bimatism” where they are much heavier and larger than females. This extreme size difference separates the sexes into very different ecological niches.
Unusual mating habits
Bustards employ some unusual and elaborate mating rituals. Males of several species inflate neck sacks, make pigment patterns more vibrant, and some species even have ritualized dances or aerial displays. Bustard mating systems are often polygamous with a smaller number of males mating with multiple females.
Cryptic chicks
Mother bustards lay their eggs in hidden locations in tall grass or under shrubs. After hatching, chicks rely on camouflage and hiding to avoid predators. The mothers do not feed or actively protect the young.
Bustard Species | Range | Conservation Status |
---|---|---|
Great Bustard | Spain, Portugal, parts of Central Asia | Vulnerable |
Houbara Bustard | Canary Islands, Northern Africa, Middle East | Vulnerable |
Kori Bustard | Sub-Saharan Africa | Near Threatened |
Conclusion
In summary, the origins of the name “bustard” applied to this diverse group of large ground birds remains contested. Possible etymological sources include Latin terms, old French and English words, imitations of their calls, and ancient Greek or Arabic roots. Regardless of the name’s specific beginnings, bustards have played interesting roles in human history through hunting, food, symbolism, and folklore around the world. Unfortunately today most bustards species are threatened in the wild. Yet they remain integral components of grassland habitats, and their unique adaptations continue to fascinate biologists. Increased conservation attention to these misunderstood birds will hopefully secure their future.