BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD  
Lissotis melanogaster

uFumba, uNofunjwa (Zulu) Langbeenkorhaan (Afrikaans)

HABITAT
Found in the bushveld, savannah, grassland, vleis and cultivated lands of north-east KwaZulu-Natal.

TYPE
A fairly large mottled brown and black bird with a long neck and legs. The back is heavily blotched black on mottled buff, the underparts black with a contrasting white patch on the leading edge of the wing. There is a black and white patch on the nape and a black line down the forehead. The eyes are brown, the bill blackish with yellow on the sides and bottom and the legs and feed are dull yellow. The female is similar to the male above but has a white belly.

BREEDING
They nest from October to February and lay their eggs on the ground near a tree without building any form of nest. They lay from 1 to 5 light olive green eggs which are roundish in shape and splotched and streaked with brown, olive and grey.

FOOD
Their food consists of insects and plant material.

STATUS
An uncommon resident.