Belonging to the Order Gruiformes and Family Otididae, Genus Chlamydotis is now divided into two species, the Macqueen’s Bustard, Chlamydotis macqueenii (Asian species) and the Houbara Bustard, Chlamydotis undulata (predominantly in North Africa and Canary Islands). The dividing line between the two species is the Sinai Peninsula. The North African subspecies is Chlamydotis undulata undulata, and the Canarian subspecies is Chlamydotis undulata fuertaventurae.
The North African Houbara is a medium sized bustard with adult males weighing between 1500 – 2400 g and females weighing between 1000-1400 g. They are omnivores and the diet is composed of invertebrates (40%) and plant material (60%). They prefer to walk or run away from disturbance rather than fly. North African Houbara bustard is sedentary or partially migratory moving relatively short distances in search of feed.
The Houbara bustard has declined considerably throughout its range in North Africa as a result of habitat destruction and hunting pressure. In view of this decline, HRH Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud International Foundation for Conservation and Development of Wildlife implemented in 1993 a large scale captive breeding program for the nominated subspecies together with a contingency recovery plan.