Prasad Ganpule, Morbi, Gujarat.

Email: prasadganpule@gmail.com

 Macqueen’s Bustard Chlamydotis macqueenii, also earlier called as Houbara Bustard, is a globally threatened bird.

It is an uncommon winter migrant to Gujarat with scattered sightings from Little Rann of Kutch area and Greater Rann of Kutch area, where it winters in small numbers. There have been isolated sightings from Jamnagar District (from Jamnagar City outskirts, from Positra near Dwarka) in recent years and there are unconfirmed reports from other areas.

A photo from Jamnagar taken by Ashvinbhai Trivedi in February 2010 is given below:

It is somewhat easily seen in Little Rann of Kutch, in areas near Bajana.  However nowhere is it common in Gujarat and is a much sought after bird by birdwatchers and photographers here.