Heterotetrax vigorsii
As its name suggests, the Karoo Korhaan is a species that favours arid scrublands, preferring areas with a good ground cover and stony ground where its camouflage renders it very difficult to detect. It has also recently adapted to parts of the fynbos-biome as well the as planted croplands in that area. They follow an omnivorous diet, consuming flowers, fruit, leaves, bulbs and a wide range of invertebrates. Adult Karoo Korhaans weigh up to 2kg, with males quite a bit larger than the females.
These small bustards move around in pairs or small groups of up to 5. Breeding attempts have been recorded through most of the year, but summer appears to be the peak breeding season for the Karoo Korhaan. Pairs are monogamous and stay together throughout the year. The nest is a shallow scrape in the ground, usually hidden between shrubs and rocks. They lay a single egg, incubated by the female alone. Chicks leave the nest soon after hatching to forage along with their parents.
Thanks to a large and apparently increasing population and no apparent threats despite most of the population occurring outside formal conservation areas, the IUCN considers the Karoo Korhaan to be of Least Concern. They occur only in southern Namibia and parts of the Northern, Western and Eastern Cape Provinces in South Africa.
de Wets Wild 
Thank you for sharing 🙂
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It is our great pleasure, Mukhamani!
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Bustard is such a good word. 🙂
janet
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😀
That “u” is very important!
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🙂 I can see that!
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Interessant dat hulle so goed doen, al lê hul net een eier per keer. Hulle is darem fantasties gekamoefleer. Mooi foto’s,Dries!
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Die wonderlike kamoeflering en hul voorkeur vir afgelee, yl bevolkte (sover dit mense aangaan) gebiede moet die rede wees vir hul sukses, sou ek raai. Dankie vir die inloer, Dina!
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Very lovely birds, Dries. Their feather colour and markings remind me of the Limpkins we have here on Florida, but they have much longer beaks than your korhaan.
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I see the resemblance, thanks for pointing it out Sylvia. Seems your Limpkin loves much, much, much wetter environments than the Karoo Korhaan does though!
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Absolutely. They do enjoy a paddle. 😅
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I find myself wondering what their cry sounds like; whether it is part of the pattern of sound I remember from those regions. Just as I will always associate Malawi with fish eagles.
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Their call sounds very much like a croaking toad, would you believe!? Have a listen here: https://www.xeno-canto.org/391904
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That is the sound I was recalling, indeed!
Grateful to you for introducing me to that website. A really handy resource for relaying bird calls.
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Only a pleasure!
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