Rhinoptilus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 Jerdon's Courser
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R. africanus |
Rhinoptilus is a genus of coursers, a group of wading birds. There are four species, which breed in Africa and South Asia. They have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. Although classed as waders, they inhabit deserts and similar arid regions. Like the pratincoles, the coursers are found in warmer parts of the Old World. They hunt insects by sight, pursuing them on foot.
Their 2–3 eggs are laid on the ground.
[edit] Species in taxonomic order
- Two-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus
- Heuglin's Courser Rhinoptilus cinctus
- Violet-tipped Courser or Bronze-winged courser, Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
- Jerdon's Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
[edit] References
- Hayman, Marchant and Prater, Shorebirds ISBN 0-873403-19-4
