Cursorius

Cursorius
Burchell's courser
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Glareolidae
Genus: Cursorius
Latham, 1790
species

C. cursor
C. temminckii
C. coromandelicus
C. rufus

Cursorius is a genus of coursers, a group of wading birds. The genus name derive from Latin cursor, "runner", from currere, "to run".[1]

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.

Species in taxonomic order

References

  1. Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
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