Cover image: Burchell’s Courser by Phillip Nieuwoudt– Garingboom Guest Farm, Free State – BirdPix No. 138305
Identification
Burchell’s Courser is a smallish plover-like species. Its most diagnostic feature is the blue-grey hind crown and nape, distinguishing it from the similar Temminck’s Courser. It has a white supercilium which extends from the eye onto the nape. There is a narrow, sometimes indistinct, black line behind the eye. The back and chest are uniformly brown with little contrast between the two. There is an indistinct black band separating the brown upper belly from the white lower belly. The vent and lower belly are white. The bill is relatively long when compared to other coursers and the legs are whiteish.
The sexes are alike.
Immatures have mottled cream and black upper parts and lack the distinctive head markings of the adult.
Photos by Gregg Darling (left) and Tino Herselman (right)
In flight shows a broad white trailing edge to the secondaries. This is distinct from other coursers in the region.
Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus) – Karoo-Gariep Nature Reserve, Northern Cape
Photo by Gerald Wingate
Status and Distribution
The Burchell’s courser is endemic to Southern Africa, extending marginally into south-western Angola. It is generally uncommon across its range but may be locally common at some sites in Namibia and the arid west of South Africa.
The population, notably near the edge of its distribution in the south and east, is known to have declined sharply in recent years. In the past it was regularly recorded from Botswana but recently there have been very few confirmed sightings. The nature and causes of its decline are not understood and should be investigated.
Details for map interpretation can be found here.
Habitat
Burchell’s courser inhabits dry, open short or burnt grassland, Karoo scrub, stony semidesert and open desert plains. It is very partial to bare saltpans and ploughed and fallow lands. It is absent from fynbos and avoids woodlands of any kind.
Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus) – Near Poffadder, Northern Cape
Photo by Zenobia van Dyk
Behaviour
Burchell’s Courser is highly nomadic and possibly seasonally migratory in some areas. This species feeds on a range of insects and is especially fond of Harvester Termites. It runs rapidly and forages by pecking at the ground after running a short distance. It may dig with its bill in soft soil. The posture is very upright and when alarmed bobs its tail and sways its body while holding its head still. May be found in pairs but is more often gregarious in groups of 5 to 15 birds.
Photo by Tino Herselman
Breeding may take place during most months but mainly August to December. 1 or 2 eggs are laid per clutch, usually directly on the substrate. No true nest is constructed, but the site may be lined with antelope or sheep droppings, stones or clumps of earth.
The eggs are incubated by both sexes, however, further details are unrecorded.
Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus) – Ncandu Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Garth Aiston
Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus) – Ncandu Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal
Photo by Garth Aiston
Further Resources
Species text adapted from the first Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP1), 1997.
The use of photographs by Garth Aiston, Gerald Wingate, Gregg Darling, Michael Wright, Phillip Nieuwoudt, Tino Herselman and Zenobia van Dyk is acknowledged.
Virtual Museum (BirdPix > Search VM > By Scientific or Common Name).
Other common names: Bloukopdrawwertjie (Afrikaans): Ingegane (Xhosa); Makopjoane (South Sotho); Rosse Renvogel (Dutch); Courvite de Burchell (French); Rostrennvogel (German); Corredor de Burchell (Portuguese)
Recommended citation format: Tippett RM 2023. Burchell’s Courser (Cursorius rufus). Biodiversity and Development Institute. Available Online at http://thebdi.org/2023/01/25/burchells-courser-cursorius-rufus/
Photo by Michael Wright
