The bird’s habitat is areas with low rainfall such as deserts, plains, and savannahs, where it’s exceptionally well developed senses play a major role in its survival and safety.

It is commonly found in the Namibrand Nature Reserve, at Mirabib and Ganab in the Namib-Naukluft Park, at Bloedkoppie, and in the Spitzkoppe surroundings.

Rüppell's korhaan is omnivorous, having a diet of mostly invertebrates such as small reptiles and termites, though it also eats leaves and seeds.

Bustards are highly susceptible to the loss or modification of habitat, nearly always as a result of increasing pressures from agriculture, hunting, poaching for sport and food - especially during breeding season.

As a result of their elusiveness, natural shyness, large home ranges, combined with their camouflage, they are one of the most difficult groups on which to obtain any sufficient biological, population, or mortality data.