White-Quilled Bustard

White-Quilled Bustard

Afrotis afraoides

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
at Etosha National Park

In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%

1,515 Verified sightings at Etosha National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,867 In all 4 parks
January Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the White-Quilled Bustard

The northern black korhaan (Afrotis afraoides), also known as the white-quilled bustard, is a species of bird in the bustard family, Otididae. It is widely distributed across Southern Africa. Its habitat is primarily open grassland and scrub.

The northern black korhaan was first described in 1831 by the Scottish surgeon, explorer and zoologist Andrew Smith, who gave it the specific name "afraoides". He placed it in the genus Eupodotis, where it was one of two species, the other being the southern black korhaan (Eupodotis afra). Then in 2014, del Hoyo and Collar transferred both species to the genus Afrotis.

The male's plumage has regularly-arranged black and white barring on the back and wings, the head, neck and underparts being black. The female has the head, neck, breast and upper parts barred or chequered in black and buff, the belly being black. The primary feathers are largely white, which distinguishes this species from the southern black korhaan where they are black. Both the female and the male... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Recording0:06

South Africa · 2025

© janet_taylor · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Recording0:09

South Africa · 2025

© Luke Goddard · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Recording0:19

Namibia · 2025

© Nick Helme · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~60%
2 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
3 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
4 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a White-Quilled Bustard in Etosha National Park?

Likely

About 60% of wildlife watchers report a White-Quilled Bustard sighting in Etosha National Park on a given day, based on 1,515 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 9th most-seen of the 260 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a White-Quilled Bustard in Etosha National Park?

January

In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a White-Quilled Bustard in Etosha National Park on a given day, against about 40% in May, the lowest month. That is one of Etosha National Park's wettest months, with about 75 mm of rain against almost none in June.

What time of day is best to see a White-Quilled Bustard?

Between 8 and 11 am

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most White-Quilled Bustard sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Etosha National Park the best place to see a White-Quilled Bustard?

Yes

Of the 4 parks where we can rate White-Quilled Bustard sightings, Etosha National Park has the highest daily chance: about 60%. Next come Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (South Africa, about 30%) and Chobe National Park (Botswana, about 10%).

Which relatives of the White-Quilled Bustard live in Etosha National Park?

Same family: Otididae

The closest relatives of the White-Quilled Bustard that you can see in Etosha National Park (family Otididae, Bustards) are Kori Bustard (about 60%) and Crested Bustard (about 30%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the White-Quilled Bustard sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the White-Quilled Bustard is recorded against all the birds logged in Etosha National Park (1,515 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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