Want to know where and when to find Ludwigs Bustard? opspoor shows recent sightings across South Africa's parks and when each species is usually active.
Where to see Ludwigs Bustard in South Africa
About the Ludwigs Bustard
A medium-to-large ground bird of the semi-arid Karoo and western grasslands, with a grey-brown face and front neck, a white back of neck and face, and a dull orange nape. It forages on foot for insects, small vertebrates, flowers and seeds in small groups of two to four, and is frequently confused with the similar Denhams Bustard. Populations are declining sharply due to fatal collisions with powerlines, to which bustards are especially vulnerable because of a visual blind spot when flying.
How to identify the Ludwigs Bustard
Distinguished from the similar Denhams Bustard by a paler nape and lack of black-and-white crown stripes; walks with a slow, deliberate gait across open ground
Did you know?
Ludwig's Bustard suffers one of the highest recorded rates of powerline collision mortality of any bird, with an estimated 4,000-11,900 killed annually across its range.
Planning a safari? Pick a park above to see when and where to look for Ludwigs Bustard, and log your own sightings in opspoor, even with no signal.