Houbara
The Houbara bustard Chlamydotis undulata is a rare shy bird inhabiting flat arid plains, steppe habitats and semi-desert, with open or scattered scrubby vegetation. It is the only true desert species of bustards and is well adapted to the desert environment. Houbara belong to the Gruiformes order, together with cranes and rails.
Species
The Houbara bustard belongs to the Otididae family that comprises 22 species. The species is the sole representative of the genus Chlamydotis, which is currently separated into three subspecies: the North African subspecies called C.u.undulata , the Canarian subspecies called C.u.fuertaventurae , and the Asiatic subspecies called C.u.macqueenii .
The Canary Islands support the endemic, non-migratory Canarian Houbara with populations of approximately 527 birds. On the adjacent African continent, the North African Houbara stretches from Mauritania and the southern Atlantic coast of Morocco through to western Egypt.
