Jerdon's Courser

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Jerdon's Courser
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Glareolidae
Genus: Rhinoptilus
Species: R. bitorquatus
Binomial name
Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
Blyth, 1848
Specimen records in grey and current distribution in red.
Specimen records in grey and current distribution in red.

The Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) belongs to the pratincole and courser family Glareolidae. The bird was named after the zoologist Thomas C. Jerdon who discovered it in 1848. It was rediscovered in 1986 by Bharat Bhushan, an ornithologist at the Bombay Natural History Society after being thought to be extinct. This courser is a restricted-range endemic found locally in India in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is currently only known in the Sri Lankamalleshwara Sanctuary, inhabiting a sparse scrub forest interspersed with patches of bare ground.

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[edit] Description

It is an unmistakable compact courser, with two brown breast-bands. It has a yellow bill with a black tip, a blackish crown, broad buff supercilium, and orange-chestnut throat patch. In flight it shows a mostly black tail and a prominent white wingbar. It is a crepuscular bird and is known to be vocal at dawn and dusk with in a series of staccato Twick-too...Twick-too... Twick-too calls.

[edit] Status

This bird was known only from a few historical records and was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1986. It remains critically endangered due to loss of habitat. It is nocturnal in habit and presumed to be insectivorous. Being a rare bird, nothing is known yet about its behaviour and nesting habits.

Population estimates for the bird vary from 25 to 200. Recent studies have made use of techniques such as tracking strips where the footprints may be recorded.[1]

[edit] Threats

Following the construction of the Somasilla dam, 57 villages were relocated into the region where the Courser was rediscovered. These areas of Lankamalai, Palgonda and Seshachalam were previously not well populated. With the rising population here, there is also livestock pressure and firewood extraction. In addition extensive quarrying threatens the habitat. [2]

In December 2005, the only known location for the species was threatened by a canal construction project which threatened to destroy and alter the habitat of the species.[3] The area has also been threatened by illegal construction work and activities related to a project proposed to link the rivers of India.[4]

In 1988 the Indian Postal Service released a stamp celebrating its rediscovery.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jeganathan, P., R. E. Green, C. G.R. Bowden, K. Norris, D. Pain & A. R. Rahmani (2002). Use of tracking strips and automatic cameras for detecting critically endangered Jerdon’s Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus in scrub jungle in Andhra Pradesh, India. Oryx 36: 182-188.
  2. ^ 2007 IUCN Red List – Search
  3. ^ BNHS
  4. ^ Riverlinking

[edit] External links