NORMAL HEMATOLOGY AND AGE-RELATED FINDINGS IN THE RUFOUS-CRESTED BUSTARD (EUPODOTIS-RUFICRISTA)

Blood samples were collected from six juvenile (age 4-6 months) and 14 adult (two years and more) clinically normal captive rufous-crested bustards (Eupodotis ruficrista). Standard haematology assays were carried out to establish normal reference values for the species and to investigate any age-related differences. Compared with adults, juveniles showed low haemoglobin levels, mean cell haemoglobin and mean cell haemoglobin concentrations but higher fibrinogen levels. In juveniles, the total white cell count was high, with a higher number of lymphocytes but a lower number of basophils compared to the adults. The results obtained from this study not only provide important haematological reference values for this species but they also demonstrate age-related haematological changes between juvenile and adult birds.