Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Otidiformes
Family: Otididae
Genus: Tetrax
Species: T. tetrax
Portugal
Critically Endangered
Spain
Endangered
Global
Near Threatened
A close relative of the Great bustard, it also occurs in cereal pseudo-steppes. Males are easily distinguishable by their black neck with white stripes, which they proudly display during the courtship season. Females are brownish.
The little bustard is typically associated with agricultural and steppe areas, with undergrowth and little denseness. The species is most abundant in areas of traditional cereal agriculture, with fallow periods of two or more years. The availability of insects is an important factor for the establishment of adult male territories.
In Portugal, the species occurs mainly in the Alentejo, and occasionally in certain areas of the northern and central interior and near the border with Spain. The little bustard suffered a significant contraction in distribution and a population reduction by about half between 2003 and 2016. In Spain, the main population is in the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha, but population estimates for the country are uncertain.
