LUDWIG’S bustard is an uncommon resident found in the drier parts of South Africa and in the Eastern Cape but only a vagriant in upland KZN.
Its voice is a deep, resonant croak ‘woopm or joomf’, which sounds like a brief, low drumbeat.
They are shy and wary birds, and are either solitary or found in groups of up to six. They fly readily when disturbed, usually until they’re out of sight. To avoid detection they sometimes squat.
The male displays with an inflated neck, raised tail and fanned undertail coverts. Food comprises of insects, seeds, small invertebrates and plant material. The breeding season is August to March. They have no nest but lay light brown eggs on bare ground in the open, often among stones.
Incubation and fledging is unrecorded. The Zulu name is iSemi and Afrikaans Ludwigse pou.
