Algeria (E) (B) (NB), Armenia (P), Austria (E) (B), Azerbaijan (B) (NB) (P), Bulgaria (E) (B), China (mainland) (B), Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska), Czech Republic (E) (B), France (B) (NB) (P), Georgia (NB) (P), Germany (E) (B), Greece (E) (B), Hungary (E) (B), Iran [Islamic Republic of] (B) (NB), Iraq (NB), Israel (NB), Italy (B) (NB), Kazakhstan (B) (P), Kyrgyzstan (B) (P), Macedonia [The Former Yugoslav Republic of] (B), Moldova [Republic of] (E) (B), Montenegro (E) (B), Morocco (B) (NB), Pakistan (NB), Poland (E) (B), Portugal (B) (NB), Russia (Central Asian) (B), Russia (European) (B) (P), Serbia (E) (B), Slovakia (Slovak Republic) (E) (B), Spain (B) (NB), Syrian Arab Republic (NB), Tajikistan (NB) (P), Tunisia (NB), Turkey (B) (NB), Turkmenistan (NB) (P), Ukraine (B) (NB) (P).
Vagrant to Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, India, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon (P), Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Oman (NB), Palestinian Authority Territories (NB), Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
Unknown to Afghanistan, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (NB), Romania (B) (NB), United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan (B) (P).
Morocco and Iberia to France, Sardinia and south-eastern Italy; Ukraine and south-western Russia through Kazakhstan to Kirgizia and extreme north-western China; extreme northern Iran. Winters from Mediterranean zone through Turkey and Caucasus to Iran, and erratically elsewhere in southern Asia.
Population
Estimated population is 260,000 (2010).
Status NT
Habitat destruction and fragmentation, use of pesticides, illegal hunting, new pathogens introduced from farm-reared gamebirds, are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Food
Plant material and invertebrates.
Voice
A snorting 'knerr' or 'prritt', various grunts and whistles.
Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) [XC638633]
by Paulo Alves from Hoya de Huesca\/Plana de Uesca (near Tardienta), Huesca, Arag\u00f3n, Spain (song)
Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) [XC128165]
by Fernand DEROUSSEN from Sarroca de Lleida, Catalonia, Spain (wingbeat sound)
Nest
A shallow scrape in the ground, in low vegetation.
Eggs (Guide)
3 - 4; glossy, olive-brown or green with darker streaks and spots.
Subspecies
Eastern birds have been awarded separate subspecies orientalis, on grounds of larger size and greyer, more heavily marked upperparts, but much individual variation and considerable overlap between populations, so not nowadays accepted.
The Reader's Digest Book of British Birds 1980, 3rd Edition, Drive Publications Ltd ISBN 0 340 25308 8
Birds in Colour Campbell, B., 1960, Penguin Books Ltd
The Pocket Guide to Nest and Eggs Fitter, R.S.R., 1954, Collins
RSPB Handbook of British Birds Holden, P., Cleeves, T., 2002, A & C Black ISBN 0 7136 5713 8
Birds of Britain and Europe Sterry, P., et al., 2001, AA Publishing ISBN 0 7495 3068 5
The Popular Handbook of British Birds Hollom, P.A.D., 1973, H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd ISBN 0 85493 002 7
BirdLife International Species Factsheet