It is native to the desert and steppe regions of Asia, west from the Sinai Peninsula extending across Iran and further north toward Kazakhstan and Mongolia.

Otis macqueenii was proposed by John Edward Gray in 1834 for a bustard from India drawn by Thomas Hardwicke.

[4] The genus name Chlamydotis is from Ancient Greek khlamus, a horseman's cloak with weights sewn into the corners, and otis, bustard.

[6] Estimates based on the divergence of mitochondrial DNA sequence suggest that the species separated from the common ancestors of C. u. undulata and C. u. fuertaventurae nearly 430,000 years ago.

A study of the morphometrics of the Asian houbara from Pakistan based on about 79 individuals of known sex showed that the males were 9 to 15% larger than females on most measurements.

The use of discriminant analysis allowed correct identification of the sexes based on morphometrics in about 99% of the cases.

Vagrants have historically been found as far west and north as Britain and as far south as northern Kerala (Kanhangad[13]).

[18][19][20] A study in the steppes of Iran found that nest sites were chosen mainly in locations with high densities of insect prey which in turn were related to vegetation characteristics.

Mongolian birds leave the wintering areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan from mid to late March and arrive in their breeding grounds after about two months of flying, taking a path that avoids the high mountains of the Himalayas.

They spend about four months in their breeding territories before setting off again and reach their winter grounds from October to December.

This is followed by a more vigorous phase of running either in a line or in a circle around a few bushes while the neck is tucked back into an "S".

It was considered great sport in colonial India, especially to hunt tiloor (the local name) from camel back.

The main threat to the species is degradation of semi-desert habitat by the introduction of agriculture and by infrastructure development such as roads and electricity, which are responsible for increased mortality of birds.

[36] A study in Uzbekistan found that sheep grazing did not disturb the MacQueen's usage of non-breeding habitats.

[26][41][42][43] Being migratory species, it is important that captive-bred bustards undertake similar migrations as wild birds.

As migration has a genetic component, it is important to consider migratory population structure, as well as natal and release-site fidelity, during captive breeding management of this species.