At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Birds
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The great Indian bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds and among the most endangered birds in the world. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
It is a tall, ground-dwelling bird of open grasslands, now reduced to very few individuals.
Range & habitat
Dry grasslands of India and Pakistan.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Collisions with power lines
- Habitat loss to farming and development
- A tiny population
Why it matters
A grassland giant on the edge of extinction, the great Indian bustard is a flagship for India's neglected grassland habitats and for making power infrastructure wildlife-safe.
Sources
Sources for Great Indian Bustard
- IUCN Red List — look up Great Indian Bustard (authoritative status)
- BirdLife International
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are power lines such a threat to the great Indian bustard?
As a large, heavy bird with limited frontal vision in flight, it is highly prone to colliding with overhead power lines that cross its open grassland habitat.
Why is the great Indian bustard Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite power-line collisions, habitat loss to agriculture and development, and a very small remaining population. See the IUCN Red List.
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