Northern black korhaan, White quilled korhaan(Afrotis afraoides) , male
Channel: W.M.W. NATURE
Date: 2018-03-09

Witvlerkkorhaan [Afrikaans]; Botswana-trap [Dutch]; Outarde à miroir blanc [French]; Weißflügeltrappe [German]
audio:XC292585 - Weißflügeltrappe - Afrotis afraoides,XC395401 - Weißflügeltrappe - Afrotis afraoides afraoides
The Northern black korhaan is endemic to southern Africa, and is uncommon to common in a wide variety of habitats. It feeds mainly on insects, such as termites, grasshoppers and beetles, but it also eats plant products, such as seeds. The male vigorously defends his displaying territory from other males, attacking them with his wings and mating with multiple females, who solely incubates the 1-3 eggs and raises the chicks. Amazingly, the chicks can fly when they are only half grown!

Distribution and habitat:
Endemic to southern Africa, it is common in Namibia, Botswana and northern South Africa. It occurs in nama karoo, kalahari sandveld, dry sandveld, open savanna and grass-covered dunes. It generally prefers heavily grazed areas with sparse ground cover.
 Food :
Feeds on a wide variety of invertebrates and plant products, such as seeds. It forages by walking slowly, pecking food items from the ground and chasing insects

Breeding:
Polygynous, territorial solitary nester. Courtship is elaborate, involving multiple females and one male and featuring exaggeratedly undulating flight displays, playful chasing and the male displaying his white breast patches. The male is extremely protective of his 200-300 m2 territory, fighting other males by striking with his wings, after which the other male usually flies off.
It does not build a nest, laying its eggs directly on the ground among scattered grass tufts and shrubs, often under small thorn trees.Egg-laying season is year-round, peaking from September-March.
It lays 1-3, usually 1-2 eggs, which are incubated solely by the female for 21-23 days (recorded in captivity).
The female cares for the chicks, who can fly when they are only half-grown.

Threats
Not threatened, although its population has decreased in extensively cultivated areas. In 1980 a dealer was caught with at least 50 Northern black korhaans, that were about to be exported to the Middle east, probably to be used for falconry.