The species inhabits sandy and stony semi-desert and is specialised to arid conditions where trees are absent and both shrub cover and herb layer are sparse (Collar 1979, Goriup 1997, Snow and Perrins 1998, Martí and del Moral 2003), and appears to prefer remote areas away from human settlement (Chammem et al. 2012). It feeds on invertebrates, small vertebrates and green shoots, with a generalist and opportunistic diet (Bacon et al. 2019). North African populations may be sedentary or partially migratory, moving relatively short distances to find recent plant growth (Snow and Perrins 1998).  
Males attract their mates with an extravagant courtship display which they perform at the same site each year. The display begins with a period of strutting and culminates with the male retracting his head within an ornamental shield of erected neck feathers and then running at speed in either a straight or curved line. The display is often accompanied by a series of subsonic booming calls (Gaucher et al. 1996). In eastern Morocco, females breed from mid-February to mid-June, and then will generally lay two to three eggs on the ground (Bacon et al. 2019). Therefore, eggs and young are susceptible to ground predators.

This species occurs across a wide range in North Africa. The nominate subspecies occurs in northernmost Mauritania, Western Sahara, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt west of the Nile, with old records from Sudan, although the current status there is uncertain and it may be extinct (more recent records may pertain to C. macqueeni). However, it has been reported that it is becoming more difficult to find the species in Tunisia, it may be close to extinction in Egypt and it may now occur only in disconnected areas in Algeria, which suggests the distribution may be smaller than previously documented (D. Jurek in litt. 2015). In Tunisia, the species was historically widely distributed, but only small relict populations remain in the most remote southern areas (Chammem et al. 2012). Subspecies fuertaventurae is confined to the eastern Canary Islands, Spain, with most in Fuerteventura and Lanzarote plus a very small number on the small islet of La Graciosa.

Conservation Actions Underway
CITES Appendix I. EU Birds Directive Annex I. Bern Convention Appendix II. National legislation protects the species or controls hunting in most range states; however, hunters are often able to circumvent these laws (Azafzaf et al. 2005). 
The nominate subspecies in North Africa was the subject of an action plan (Azafzaf et al. 2005). A captive breeding and release programme aimed at population reinforcement is on-going (Lesobre et al. 2009, Dolman et al. 2021, Monnier-Corbel et al. 2022). The Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (ECWP) was created in 1995 and manages African Houbara populations within a 50,170 km² intervention area in eastern Morocco, containing protected areas and hunting areas (Monnier-Corbel et al. 2022). There are now captive breeding centres in both Morocco and Algeria, with the majority of birds produced by the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) at the ECWP at Missour and Enjil in eastern Morocco (IFHC 2013, Dolman et al. 2021). In the ECWP area a total of 108,915 individuals were released between 1998-2019 with 90% after 2009 (Monnier-Corbel et al. 2022), with c. 135,000 released over this period in the whole of Morocco (Monnier-Corbel et al. 2021). Releases have also taken place in Mauritania (2,200 in 2017-18), Algeria (9,921 between 2011-2019) and Libya (300 in 2010-11) (Dolman et al. 2021). However, despite the very high level of releases the ECWP population does not meet criteria for viability and self-sufficiency (Bacon 2017, Monnier-Corbel et al. 2022). The conclusion is that a population of c. 3,400 individuals in 2001 is now sustained only by continued releases of reared individuals. The programme has preserved the genetic diversity of the species (Lesobre et al. 2010, Rabier et al. 2020). However it may have introduced traits of domestication into the released birds changing or compromising the demography of the population (Dolman et al. 2021).
Subspecies fuertaventurae has received improved protection from poaching, reduction of grazing (agricultural decline) and habitat management within protected areas (Martín et al. 1997, Martín and Lorenzo 2001, Martí and del Moral 2003). SEO/BirdLife purchased a 209-ha reserve to protect the species on Fuerteventura in 2005. Earlier, the introduction of a hunting ban in 1971 on Lanzarote appears to have been instrumental in preventing extinction there: genetic data indicate a severe 20th century bottleneck consistent with reports at the time of the very small population, which has subsequently recovered (Horreo et al. 2023). 

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out comprehensive and coordinated surveys to establish the total population size and quantify the overall trend, as well as to clarify the current distribution. Establish robust, workable systems for the sustainability of hunting throughout range. Create hunting preserves and other types of managed protected areas. Reduce grazing and other farming pressures (Goriup 1997, O. Combreau and M. Lawrence in litt. 2004, F. Launay pers. comm. 2004). Study the impacts of releasing captive-reared birds on the demographics and genetic structure of the whole population.
For subspecies fuertaventurae: designate new and expand existing special protected areas under European law. Increase wardening of key areas. Ensure safe powerline positions; conduct a rigorous census every five years. Undertake local awareness campaigns (Martín et al. 1997, Martín and Lorenzo 2001, Martí and del Moral 2003).