At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- FaunaHub record reviewed
- Checked against IUCN
- Matches source — IUCN's 2018 global assessment of Houbaropsis bengalensis says Critically EndangeredChecked 2026-10-09 against IUCN's Red List export published 2026-07-28 · assessment
Conservation overview
The Bengal florican is a rare grassland bustard famous for the male's spectacular leaping courtship display. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It depends on increasingly scarce natural grasslands.
Range & habitat
Grasslands of the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Loss and conversion of grassland
- Disturbance and collisions
- A tiny population
Why it matters
A grassland bustard on the edge of extinction, the Bengal florican is a flagship for protecting the threatened grasslands of South and Southeast Asia.
Sources
Sources for Bengal Florican
- IUCN Red List — look up Bengal Florican (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bengal florican's courtship display?
Males leap into the air above the grass in a bouncing, fluttering display to attract females, one of the most striking courtship performances among grassland birds.
Why is the Bengal florican Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite the loss and conversion of grassland, disturbance and collisions, and a very small population. See the IUCN Red List.