Burchell's Courser

The Burchell's courser, Cursorius rufus, is a small, terrestrial bird with a graceful figure and an upright posture. It is a member of the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae, and is named in honor of the English naturalist William John Burchell. This bird is characterized by its pale rufous coloration, a blue-grey hind crown, and a distinctive horizontal black band that separates its white underbelly. Its face is adorned with white supercilia above black eye lines, converging at the back of the neck to form a double V. The secondaries are mostly white with a black underwing and brown to grey coverts. The bill is long and arched, complementing its dark eyes, and the legs are a creamy white. In flight, the feet of the Burchell's courser extend past its tail.

Identification Tips

Adult Burchell's coursers are distinguished by their rufous coloring, facial stripes, and grey hind crown. Juveniles, however, lack these features and are mottled with black and beige barring. The bird's camouflage appearance allows it to blend seamlessly with its surroundings, making it a challenge to spot.

Habitat

Burchell's courser inhabits deserts or semi-deserts with gravel substrates, open grasslands with short grass, and areas with sparse, burnt, or overgrazed vegetation.

Distribution

Endemic to Africa, the Burchell's courser is found in the western parts of southern Africa, including most of South Africa and Namibia, as well as parts of Angola and Botswana.

Behaviour

Adult Burchell's coursers exhibit a diversionary display known as "displacement brooding" to protect their nesting area from predators. The chicks, while precocial, require shade to avoid overheating due to their underdeveloped heat-loss mechanisms.

Song & Calls

The Burchell's courser is generally quiet on the ground but becomes vocal when flying. Its vocalizations include a throaty "chuk" upon taking flight, "chuk chuk" grunts while airborne, and a contact call resembling "kwirrt-kwirrt" or "kok-kok-kwich". An alarm call may be emitted when the bird runs from its nest to divert predators.

Breeding

Burchell's coursers are mostly solitary, monogamous birds that may form small flocks. They breed throughout the year, often before the wet season, laying two eggs directly on the ground. The eggs are buff-colored with dark markings, and both parents participate in incubation.

Similar Species

The Temminck's Courser is similar in appearance but can be differentiated by the absence of the blue-grey hind crown and other subtle plumage differences.

Diet and Feeding

The Burchell's courser is an insectivore, primarily feeding on insects such as beetles and harvester termites, which can make up over half of its diet. It uses its long bill to forage and runs to catch prey.

Conservation Status

The Burchell's courser is classified as Least Concern, but its population is declining due to habitat loss on arable lands, intensive farming practices, and other anthropogenic disturbances.