Great bustardOtis tarda

Estado de Conservación

This bird is emblematic in the Alentejo region (Portugal) and at almost 16 kg it is the heaviest bird in Europe. Observing them can be difficult, but the courtship displays during the mating season (spring) are spectacular. 

The species occurs in cereal pseudo-steppes, where it finds food and favorable places for nesting (which happens on the ground, in the middle of the crop or in fallow areas). In Portugal, these artificial habitats correspond to extensive agricultural systems with rotation of rainfed cereal crops. This species is omnivorous and feeds mainly on seedbeds, stubble, fruits and invertebrates.

In Portugal, the species has shown a significant decrease and its distribution is essentially limited to the Alentejo. In the Campo Branco region there is about 80% of the national population. Although the species is mainly resident, there is some dispersion of individuals during the summer, with sporadic observations in other regions of the country. In Spain, population estimates for 2019 were 22,000 to 24,000 individuals, a decrease compared to previous assessments.