little bustard

The little bustard (Otis tetrax) is a bird found in Mediterranean countries, ranging from western Europe and Morocco to Afghanistan. Bustards, in general, are medium to large game birds belonging to the family Otididae, related to cranes and rails. They are characterized by long legs adapted for running and have only three toes, lacking a hind toe.12

Bustards have compact bodies, carried horizontally, with an erect neck. The little bustard is smaller than the great bustard (Otis tarda), which is the largest European land bird. Bustards typically lay eggs on bare ground, often with minimal nesting preparation. The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), for example, inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent and is critically endangered due to habitat loss and degradation.234