Asian Houbara

Chlamydotis macqueenii (Gray, JE, 1832)

Asian Houbara, Chlamydotis macqueenii, is a bustard of the Palearctic, breeding from the Middle East to central China. It lives in desert and steppe country across Asia, with its range stretching east from the Sinai Peninsula through Iran and on towards Kazakhstan and Mongolia. It is also called MacQueen’s bustard. Formerly treated as a subspecies of the African houbara, it is now recognised as a separate species. In the 19th century, individuals turned up well beyond its normal range, including Great Britain.

Order

Otidiformes

Family

Otididae — Bustards

Breeding range

Palearctic: Middle East to c China