The Kori bustard holds a genuinely impressive title: the heaviest bird on Earth still capable of flight. At up to 19kg, it’s a commanding presence striding across the open plains, and when a male puts on his full courtship display — throat inflated, tail fanned, wings drooped — it’s one of the most theatrical performances on the entire savanna. Explore our Tanzania safaris for the best open-plains birding routes.
Key Highlights
- The heaviest flying bird in the world, with adult males weighing up to 19kg
- Prefers running to flying, since its weight puts it near the physical limits of flight
- Males perform an elaborate courtship display with an inflated throat sac and fanned tail
- Often follows carmine bee-eaters that ride on its back to catch insects it flushes
- Found only in open grassland and lightly wooded plains
- Best seen on the short-grass plains of the Serengeti, Masai Mara, and Amboseli
The World’s Heaviest Flying Bird
The Kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) holds a genuinely rare distinction among birds: at up to 19kg, adult males are widely considered the heaviest birds alive still capable of sustained flight. That weight comes with trade-offs — flight for a Kori bustard is a real physical effort, requiring a long running takeoff and rapid wingbeats just to get airborne, which is why the bird strongly prefers running over flying whenever possible, relying on its long, powerful legs to cover ground or escape danger on foot.
A Theatrical Courtship Display
What the Kori bustard lacks in aerial grace, it more than makes up for with courtship theatre. Males gather at traditional display sites, spaced well apart, where each performs a striking routine: inflating a large throat sac into a cascading white feather display, fanning the tail up and over the back, drooping the wings to expose contrasting white and dark feathers, and issuing a deep, booming call that carries for a considerable distance across open grassland. Females visit these display grounds, assess several males, and choose a mate without forming any lasting bond — after mating, the female raises the chicks entirely alone, nesting some distance away from the display site.
The most prized position at a display ground tends to be the centre, where a male benefits from proximity to the most passing female traffic and, often, ends up siring a disproportionate share of the season’s chicks.
An Opportunistic Diet and an Unusual Partnership
Kori bustards eat a broad diet of insects, small reptiles, rodents, seeds, and berries, adjusting to whatever the grassland offers seasonally. During locust outbreaks, they’ll gather in small groups to take advantage of the sudden abundance, walking through swarms and picking off insects at a rapid rate.
One of the more charming sights on the savanna is a Kori bustard walking through the grass with a carmine bee-eater riding on its back. The bee-eater takes advantage of the bustard’s movement, which flushes grasshoppers and other insects out of the grass that the bee-eater then catches in short aerial sallies — a genuine partnership, since the bee-eater often returns the favour by picking ticks and other parasites off the bustard’s feathers.
Where to See a Kori Bustard
Open, short-grass plains are essential Kori bustard habitat, and the Serengeti’s southeastern plains around Ndutu, Naabi, and the Gol Kopjes are particularly good, especially during the wildebeest calving season when insect prey is abundant. The Masai Mara’s Mara Triangle offers strong sightings during the dry season, when shorter grass makes the bird’s tall silhouette easy to spot from a distance. Amboseli’s compact size and open terrain also make it a near-certain sighting on almost any full-day game drive.
For the full courtship display, time your visit to the display season, roughly June through October, and head out early in the morning when cooler temperatures and soft light bring out the display’s full visual impact — local guides familiar with a known display site can often position a vehicle nearby before the performance begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Kori bustard really the heaviest flying bird?
Yes, adult males, weighing up to 19kg, are generally considered the heaviest living bird still capable of sustained flight.
Why does the Kori bustard prefer to run rather than fly?
Its large body size makes flight physically demanding, requiring a long running takeoff, so it relies on its powerful legs to move around or escape danger whenever possible.
Where is the best place to see a Kori bustard display?
The Serengeti’s short-grass plains and the Masai Mara’s Mara Triangle both offer good chances of seeing the display, particularly during the June to October display season.
Why do carmine bee-eaters ride on Kori bustards?
Bee-eaters use the bustard’s movement through grass to flush out insects they can then catch in flight, and often return the favour by removing ticks from the bustard’s feathers.
Plan Your Safari
Our safari specialists can build a Serengeti, Masai Mara, or Amboseli itinerary with plenty of time on the open plains for Kori bustard sightings.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote on your safari.
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