Kori Bustard

Afrikaans name: Gompou

Kori Bustard

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ardeotis kori

Although this large bird is normally seen on the ground they are very capable of flying. They patrol the grasslands looking for food which can include just about anything, even stones and man-made objects! They eat small mammals, reptiles, insects, seeds, nestlings, eggs, bulbs and much more.

In South Africa it is found in drier savanna regions in Eastern Cape, Free State, Northern Cape, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In Kruger National Park they seem to be quite common in the area east of Satara Camp.

Their size makes the Kori Bustard a prey species of some of carnivorous mammals such as Leopard, Lion, Cheetah and Caracal. They are also preyed upon by Martial Eagles.

The male Kori Bustard occupies a territory and mates with a number of females. The female lays either 1 or 2 eggs in a simple nest on the ground and she is left to tend to eggs and chicks.

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References and further reading

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Year Published: 1983 - Page: 103

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1959 - Page: 154

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 154

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 74

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 52

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 83

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Year Published: 1999 - Page: 26

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 82

Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Year Published: 1988 - Page: 112

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 1984 - Page: 136

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Year Published: 2000 - Page: 136

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 15

Reader's Digest Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of Southern Africa - 2nd edi - Author: Editor - Alan Duggan - Year Published: 1991 - Page: 410

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Year Published: 1949 - Page: 91

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1975 - Page: 147

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Year Published: 1981 - Page: 153

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1985 - Page: 206

Roberts' Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 203

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 1993 - Page: 152

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 154

Sasol First Field Guide to Animal Tracks of Southern Africa - Author: Louis Liebenberg - Year Published: 2003 - Page: 14

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Year Published: 1989 - Page: 18

Southern Africa's Threatened Wildlife - Author: John Ledger - Year Published: 1990 - Page: 52

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Year Published: 1979 - Page: 14

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Year Published: 2011 - Page: 78

World Birds - Author: Brian P. Martin - Year Published: 1987 - Page: 79

List of South African Birds