Buff-crested Bustard

The buff-crested bustard (Lophotis gindiana) is a species of bird in the family Otididae. It is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. In Kenya it is a common bird, moreoften heard than seen, in dry, thickly, bushed habitats below 1400 m. Range is 94% arid - semiarid including 65% of the most arid areas. It is absent from the subhumid country in the coastal strip. 

The buff-crested bustard is named for a crest of feathers along the back of the male’s neck that are erected when displaying. The male courts the female by flying straight up in the air, and then seems to fall and catch itself just before it hitting the ground.

Buff-crested bustards usually stay close to the ground, but they can fly! When courting, a male will call a female over with a variety of quiet clicking and high-pitched shrieks. Then, he will fly 98 feet (30 meters) up and somersault through the air before falling back toward the ground. At the last second, he catches himself. If the female likes his performance, she becomes his mate. Males will attract multiple mates per season.

Because these birds don’t fly much, they nest on the ground. Even though most birds make nests with sticks and leaves, female bustards clump grass together for a nest.

Sources : Wikipedia / A Bird Atlas of Kenya