LOPHOTIS GINDIANA
Buff-crested bustards usually stay close to the ground, but they can fly! When courting, a male will call a female over with a variety of quiet clicking and high-pitched shrieks. Then, he will fly 98 feet (30 meters) up and somersault through the air before falling back toward the ground. At the last second, he catches himself. If the female likes his performance, she becomes his mate. Males will attract multiple mates per season.
The buff-crested bustard’s name came from its appearance during courtship. When a female finds a male, the feathers at the top of his head stand straight up into a crest. He puffs out his throat and neck feathers to look bigger than he actually is.
Because these birds don’t fly much, they nest on the ground. Even though most birds make nests with sticks and leaves, female bustards clump grass together for a nest.
The buff-crested bustard’s chicks hatch well into their development. Their eyes are already open and their legs are strong enough to stand on their first day. Even though they are fairly independent, chicks will remain with their mothers for several months after hatching.
