bus·tard / ˈbəstərd/ • n. a large, heavily built Old World bird (family Otididae), in particular the great bustard (Otis tarda), which is the heaviest flying land bird. The males of most bustards have a spectacular courtship display.

bustard Large bird found in arid areas of the Eastern Hemisphere. Its plumage is grey, black, brown and white and its neck and legs are long; in appearance it is quite ostrich-like. A swift runner and a strong, though reluctant flier, it feeds on small animals and lays up to five eggs. Family Otidae. Height: 1.3m (4.3ft).

bustard bird of the genus Otis. XV (earlier as a surname). perh. — AN. *bustarde, blending of OF. bistarde and oustarde (mod. outarde) :- L. avis tarda ‘slow bird’; but the bustard is a swift bird, and the L. term may be a perversion of a foreign word.