Various species are found throughout the arid regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and S Europe. The Australian bustard, Chorictis australis, is of similar size. The species vary in color from gray to brown, and many are spotted or barred above and white, buff, or black below.
Bustards live mainly on grassy plains or in brushlands.
Although they are strong fliers, they seldom leave the ground. They wander about in flocks of a dozen or more birds, feeding on leaves, seeds, and insects, especially beetles. The males are polygamous and fight fiercely during the breeding season. They are classified in 16 genera and 23 species of the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Aves, order Gruiformes, family Otidedae. Listing from Electric Library , a pay service.