Kori bustard feathers are excellent for crafting a variety of fishing flies, including grasshopper wings, wet fly wings, Muddler wings, Teeny Nymphs, Pheasant-Tail nymphs, and Spey flies. The tail, primary wing, marabou, and other feathers offer endless possibilities for creativity. The wing feathers are speckled and used in many traditional salmon fly patterns. They can also be very difficult to obtain and are often very expensive for matching left and right quills. Left and right quills are needed to build a full wing on a salmon fly.
In precise terms, “Speckled Bustard” typically refers to a specific variety of bustard feathers, commonly associated with the Kori Bustard species (Ardeotis kori).
Geographic Range:
The Kori bustard, Ardeotis kori, is found in eastern and southern sub-Saharan Africa. There are two populations: the southern subspecies, Ardeotis kori kori, residing in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, and southern Angola, and the northeastern subspecies, Ardeotis kori struthiunculus, living in Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Habitat:
Kori bustards prefer dry habitats like savannas, grasslands, and semi-desert areas. They seek shelter near water sources and sparse tree cover to avoid the heat of the day, avoiding heavily wooded regions.
Physical Description:
These birds have distinct features: large necks, crested heads, greyish-brown backs, vermiculated grey necks and breasts, whitish bellies, and black-and-white spotted patterns on their shoulders and necks. Their bills, legs, feet, and eyes are yellowish. The southern subspecies is slightly larger and has some facial plumage differences, but both share similar appearances. They’re notable for their size, crest, and absence of rufous on the hind neck. In flight, they display grey-speckled underwings without white markings.
Size and Weight:
As the heaviest flying birds in Africa, male Kori bustards weigh between 10 to 19 kilograms, while females range from 5.5 to 5.7 kg. They measure between 105 to 128 cm in length, with males having a wingspan of 75 to 76 cm and females 60 to 65 cm. Juveniles show slight differences in crests, eye color, and mantle darkness compared to adults, with female juveniles about half the size of males.
Kori Bustard and Feathers:
Kori Bustards yield light and dark feathers used in breeding programs in the US and the UK. Highly valued by Atlantic salmon fly tiers for their lengthy, versatile fibers, these feathers boast unique vermiculation in various shades, allowing for a range of fishing fly designs. While not immediately threatened with extinction, Kori bustards are listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, necessitating stringent trade controls due to habitat loss. Despite a small captive population, experienced fly tiers appreciate the efficacy and pleasure of using Kori bustard feathers.
« Back to Glossary Index