Tetrax tetrax
Not applicable
| Presence In Israel | Winter Visitor |
|---|---|
| Nesting In Israel | Non-Breeder |
| Migration Types | Long Range |
| Nest Locations | Ground |
| Diet Types | Omnivore |
| Foraging Grounds | Ground |
| Body Sizes | Medium (500 - 1000g) |
| Threat Factors | Habitat Fragmentation, Direct Persecution |
The Little Bustard is a medium-sized ground-dwelling bird whose streaked brown plumage provides excellent camouflage in the grassy habitats it frequents. It populates grassy plains, pasture and cultivated fields. Omnivorous and feeds on seeds, small fruits and inflorescences, insects and small vertebrates. During the breeding season the male’s head becomes grey and neck is black and sports a double white collar. The females and immature birds are brown-grey very well camouflaged from predators. In flight, the Little Bustard reveals white wings with black primaries and sandy brown wing coverts, the same color as its body plumage.
The Little Bustard is a rare passage migrant and winter visitor in northern Israel, particularly in the Bet She’an Valley and the Golan Heights. Individual birds are seen yearly. In previous years, it was more common and occasionally seen in flocks of a few to tens of birds.
- פז, ע. 1986. עופות. מתוך אלון, ע. (עורך), החי והצומח של ארץ ישראל. כרך 6. הוצאת משרד הביטחון, ישראל.
- Symes, A. 2013. Species generation lengths. Unpublished, BirdLife International.
- Species page at Birdlife International
Distribution maps
The maps presented here provide visual information on the distribution of species in Israel in the past and present, and the changes in occupancy and nesting density during the comparison period. For further reading
Relative Abundance 2010-2020
Breeding density values as calculated from observation records and expert opinions.
Relative Abundance 1980-1990
Breeding density values are based mainly on the book Birds of Israel (Shirihai 1996).
Occupancy difference 1990-2020
A map that expresses differences in the breeding distribution between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative value - species previously present but is currently absent, positive value - species has not been recorded previously and is currently present, zero - no change in occupancy.
Relative abundance difference 1990-2020
A map that reflects the changes in the relative abundance of the species between the evaluation periods (1980-1990 versus 2010-2020). Negative values - decline in abundance, positive values - increase in abundance, zero - no change in abundance.
| Rarity | |
| Vulnerability | |
| Attractiveness | |
| Endemism | |
| Red number | |
| Peripherality | |
| IUCN category | |
| Definition | |
