Kori Bustard
Kori Bustard spoor is identified like this: large three-toed track with broad, blunt toes. The Kori Bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world, with males weighing up to 19 kilograms, which makes takeoff a strenuous and noisy affair.
Spoor Signature
Kori Bustard
"Large three-toed track with broad, blunt toes. The track is asymmetrical and points forward. One of the heaviest flying birds."
Spoor Profile
| Species | Kori Bustard |
|---|---|
| Group | Birds |
| Track signature | Large three-toed track with broad, blunt toes. The track is asymmetrical and points forward. One of the heaviest flying birds. |
| Activity pattern | Ground-bird spoor concentrates on open sandy patches and road edges where the birds dust-bathe and forage in the early hours. |
Field Wisdom: Kori Bustard
Knowing the animal makes reading its spoor far easier. These field notes explain the behaviour behind the tracks you find.
- 1
The Kori Bustard is the heaviest flying bird in the world, with males weighing up to 19 kilograms, which makes takeoff a strenuous and noisy affair.
- 2
To attract a mate, the male performs an elaborate display by inflating his throat sac to four times its normal size and fanning his tail feathers to look like a giant white puffball.
- 3
They are predominantly terrestrial foragers that prefer walking through open savanna to find food, only taking to the air when truly threatened or to reach a roosting tree.
- 4
Their diet is highly opportunistic and omnivorous, consisting of seeds, berries, insects, small reptiles, and occasionally even small mammals like mice.
Identification Protocol
- 1
Analyze the substrate. Soft river sand near Skukuza will provide deep, clear imprints, while hard northern mopaneveld soil requires looking for shallow "ticks" or claw marks.
- 2
Look for the stride length. A walking Kori Bustard will leave a regular, repeating pattern. Changes in gait often signal proximity to water or recent predator interaction.
Compare Similar Spoor
Spoor that trackers routinely compare against Kori Bustard prints in the field: