Endemic to the Indian subcontinent, it is found mainly in India and parts of Nepal, inhabiting open grasslands and agricultural fields. Though not as large as its cousin, the Great Indian bustard, the lesser florican is every bit as charismatic—a bird whose wild leaping display has fascinated naturalists for centuries and earned it a place as a symbol of India’s vanishing grasslands.

Physically, the lesser florican is a medium-sized bustard, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in flair. The male, especially during the breeding season, is unmistakable: his plumage turns jet black with contrasting white wings, and he sports long, ribbon-like feathers that curve elegantly backward from his head, forming delicate plumes that flutter dramatically as he moves. The female, on the other hand, is cryptically colored in shades of brown, buff, and white, perfectly camouflaged against the dry grasslands where she nests.

The courtship display of the male lesser florican is one of the most remarkable spectacles in all of nature. During the monsoon season, when the grasslands turn lush and green, males establish territories and begin an acrobatic performance unlike any other. He leaps vertically into the air, sometimes up to two meters (six feet) high, his head plumes streaming, wings flashing white against the greenery, and lets out a distinctive “croak-click” call before dropping back down into the grass. He repeats this jump again and again—sometimes hundreds of times in a single day—to attract passing females. These incredible displays, often performed at dawn and dusk, have earned the species the nickname “dancing bustard” or “sky dancer” among birdwatchers and locals alike. It is a thrilling, joyous performance—a fleeting explosion of life and energy in the monsoon landscape.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

India

2021

Nepal

2021

Non-Breeding

Pakistan

2021

Possibly Extinct