Denham’s Bustard

Neotis denhami

One of Africa's heaviest flying birds. Males inflate a neck balloon in a booming display and then stay silent for months.

Population: Global total unknown; southern African subpopulation estimated at 2,500-10,000 mature individuals and decreasing (~15.5% range contraction documented in southern Africa; hunting drives declines in the Sahel/West Africa, power-line collisions and habitat conversion threaten southern populations)
Habitat: Grasslands, savannas, and semi-arid plains, also using dense shrubland, light woodland, farmland, and dried marshes/burnt fynbos, from sea level up to about 3,000 m elevation
Fun fact: During courtship, male Denham's Bustards puff up their head, throat, and chest into a conspicuous white feather display and flare their tail, appearing much larger while calling loudly and strutting on traditional display grounds to attract females.
Range: Sub-Saharan Africa in three disjunct subspecies groups: West Africa (Mauritania/Senegal/Gambia/Mali/Ghana/Nigeria east through the Sahel to Uganda and Ethiopia), East-Central Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, DRC), and Southern Africa (South Africa, Eswatini)
Diet: Omnivorous - insects, small snakes, rodents, the nestlings of other birds, and green plant matter; will follow ungulate herds to pick dung beetles out of their droppings
Size: 1.1 m
Wingspan: 2.3 m
Lifespan: 15 years

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