Tetrax – Little bustard

A fascinating steppe bird native to southern Europe, northern Africa, and central Asia, and it is the smallest member of the bustard family. Unlike its larger cousins, such as the great bustard, the little bustard is more secretive and harder to spot, preferring to skulk in tall grasses where its mottled brown plumage blends in perfectly with the dry steppe landscape.

What really makes this bird stand out is the male’s breeding display. In spring, the male develops a sharp black-and-white collar on its neck and performs short, dramatic jumps in the air—almost like a bounce—while calling with a distinctive, rasping “prrt” sound. These quick vertical leaps, repeated again and again, are both comical and impressive, designed to grab the attention of females. It’s one of the quirkiest courtship displays among birds, and it gives the Little Bustard a unique charm compared to its more stately relatives.

The little bustard is mostly a ground-dweller, feeding on a mix of seeds, shoots, and insects. This omnivorous diet allows it to adapt well to agricultural landscapes, but also puts it at risk as modern intensive farming reduces habitat diversity. Outside of the breeding season, the bird is much shyer, and its brown streaked plumage makes it almost invisible in tall grasses. It prefers to run rather than fly when threatened, but in the air, its fast, low flight and broad wings make it a powerful flyer over long distances.