Question

The largest endangered bird in India is
A. Vulture
B. Flamingo
C. Great Indian Bustard
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The species has a black crown on its forehead and has a pale neck and head. It is the state bird of Rajasthan.

Complete answer:
The largest bird flying in India and is a most endangered species is the Great Indian Bustard. It is found in the Rajasthan desert weighing up to 15 kg and is about 1 m tall. Its zoological name is Ardeotis nigriceps. It’s commonly called Godawan. The Great Indian bustard is long-necked, long-bared legged, ground bird.

Additional Information:
-The Indian bustard is found on the Indian subcontinent.
-The scientific name of the bustard is genus Ardeotis which is made up of Ardea meaning ‘Heron-like' and Otis means ‘Bustard’ while the species name is ‘nigriceps’ which is a combination of Nigri meaning 'black color' and ceps meaning ‘head' inferring to its blackhead.
-The great Indian bustard bird is protected in a desert national park in Jaisalmer, Karera sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, and great Indian bustard sanctuary in Maharashtra.
-Its body gives it an ostrich-like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds.
-It can weigh up to 15 kg and grow up to one meter in height.
-The Indian bustard is also the largest land bird in India.
-It is considered the flagship species, representing the health of the grassland ecology. Less than 200 birds are left now, of which about 100 are found in Rajasthan.
So, the correct answer is ‘Great Indian bustard’.

Note: The Great Indian bustard was listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 1994. They are a critically endangered bird with less than 150 individuals left in India and the world are in an urgent need of conservation actions.