First summary of data for fossil and subfossil bone remains of bustards from the archeological monuments

A new article by Prof. Dr Zlatozar Boev summarizes data from the first-of-its-kind study of the fossil and subfossil bone remains of bustards from the studied archaeological monuments (prehistoric, ancient and medieval settlements) in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula.

Today, both species of bustards (the great bustard and the little bustard) have disappeared as breeding species in the country. This study is the first of its kind in the countries of the Balkan Peninsula — a region through which, until recently, the southern border of the breeding range of the Otididae species in Europe passed.

Most of the established localities of bustards are located in plains, lowlands or low hilly landscapes at 20 to 670 m. a.s.l., which are the preferred habitats of modern bustards. In the Varshets locality, one of the most ancient bustards in Europe was found, the Khozatsky’s Houbara, which lived 2.4 million years ago in the Early Pleistocene, even before the appearance of modern humans.

Boev, Z. N. 2026. Past Distribution of Bustards (Otidiformes Wagler, 1830) in Bulgaria. — Birds, 2026, 7, 1-14.24. https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/7/2/24