Houbara bustard

A desert bird that migrates to Pakistan in winter

Birds

A shy, sandy-coloured bird that flies from Central Asia to spend the winter in the deserts of Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh.

About the bird

The houbara is a ground bird about the size of a chicken that relies on camouflage. During courtship the male puffs out white neck feathers in a dramatic display.

Hunting controversy

The houbara is prized by falconers, and Pakistan has issued special hunting permits to visiting dignitaries from the Gulf. This has been debated in courts and the media because of the bird's declining numbers.

Conservation

Breeding and release programmes, and limits on hunting, aim to keep migratory populations stable.