Little Bustard Tetrax tarda

A declining bird in Europe and a very rare vagrant to the UK. The French name for this species translates as "Farting Chicken", which seems quite appropriate when you hear them calling.

Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06 Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06
Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06 Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06
Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06 Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06
Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06 Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06
Little Bustard, W of Mertola, 24-Apr-06  

male Little Bustards, between Mértola and Castro Verde (Alentejo, Portugal), 24th April 2006 (top six photos are one bird, lower three are another bird)