[3] Despite its wide distribution and easily identifiable characteristics, very few studies have been conducted on this species and little is known about its life history and behavior.

The adult female has a grey crown, a brown and buff line below the eye, and black speckling on the throat.

Apart from smaller isolated groups, their large range is generally separated in four zones with distinct populations:[7] White-bellied bustards enjoy mostly tall grasslands and savannah.

The West African population is better adapted to more arid weather conditions, and sometimes ventures into the desert during the rainy season.

The most recognizable of its sounds is a croaking call (a guttural "kuk-kur-ruk" or "kuk-kaaah"), which is used in territorial defense among other purposes.

They usually eat small invertebrates (mainly beetles, but also termites, locusts, caterpillars, spiders) and plants (seeds, bulbs, berries, flowers).

Nests are usually a simple unlined scrape in the ground and situated in or under vegetation so that the eggs, chicks, and female can be hidden from predators.

[7] The White-bellied bustard's eggs are pale to dark olive-colored with darker brown or gray markings.

[12] Human-induced land use change through agriculture, overgrazing, grass burning, and urbanisation are thought to be the main causes of this decline.