The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and
specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found,
based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Great Bustard is available
HERE
.
Despite their widespread distribution across basically the
entire width of Eurasia, there are no different races.
The range of the Great Bustard has been greatly reduced over
the centuries, mostly by hunting them to extirpation, e.g.
on the British isles, but also by disturbances in their
breeding range.
Within their remaining range, they are a partly migratory,
partly sedentary species.
The current overall range extends from Iberia and a remnant
population in north-western Africa, via central and south-eastern
Europe, Asia Minor, the Euphrates and Tigris valleys and south-western
Asia to eastern China and Mongolia.
In much of Europe and in central Asia the species has disappeared.
The African and European populations, as well as most of the
population in Asia Minor, are sedentary (or only locally migratory).
The Asian populations are migratory over long distances.
Their breeding grounds are mostly in the steppes of Kazakhstan
and south-western Russia and in the border region of northern
China with eastern Mongolia and south-eastern Russia.
They overwinter in the Euphrates/Tigris river valleys, parts of
the Levant, the border region of northern Iran/Iraq with
Kazakhstan, and in eastern China.
In between, they can be found during their migration.
In Europe, most Great Bustards are found as sedentary (or only
locally migratory in response to weather/temperatures) populations
on the Iberian peninsula.
There are some small sedentary populations in an area from parts
of the Netherlands to wesern Poland, and in the Puszta region of
Hungary.
Otherwise, Great Bustards are found as summer breeding migrants to
an area spanning from southern Ukraine to the northern side of the
Caucasus mountain range in the South and the Ural mountain range
in the East (the range of this population continues into southern
central Asia).
Great Bustards have a preference for steppe and open grassy plains.
German name(s): "Großtrappe"
Description
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
Click here for a physical description
