Bengal florican
Quick Summary
The Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) is a small, ground-nesting bustard with a rapidly declining population. It is primarily found in the grasslands and open forests of the Ganges and Brahmaputra floodplains near the Himalayan foothills in India. Its range also extends to the Terai region along the India-Nepal border and the floodplains of the Tonle Sap in Cambodia.
These birds stand about 66–68 cm (26–26.7 inches) tall and are mostly black with brown speckles and white wings. Females may be buff-brown. Males perform an aerial courtship display, leaping high into the air. Major threats include habitat loss, landscape modification, invasive species, illegal construction, and hunting. The Bengal florican is also part of Project Bustard, a conservation effort launched in India in 2012.12
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