| Cream-coloured courser | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Adult inTunisia | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Glareolidae |
| Genus: | Cursorius |
| Species: | C. cursor |
| Binomial name | |
| Cursorius cursor (Latham, 1787) | |
 | |
| Range ofC. cursor Breeding Resident Non-breeding Passage Probably extinct Possibly Extant (resident) Possibly Extant (non-breeding) | |
Thecream-coloured courser (Cursorius cursor) is a species ofwader in thepratincole andcourser family,Glareolidae. Both parts of the scientific name derive fromLatincursor, "runner", fromcurrere, "to run"[2] which describes their usual habit as they hunt theirinsect prey on the ground in dry open semi-desert regions of theMiddle East and northern Africa.
Cream-coloured coursers are found in theCanary Islands,Cape Verde,North Africa andSouthwest Asia. Their two eggs are laid in a ground scrape. The breeding season extends from February to September,[3] but they may also breed in autumn and winter when local conditions (especially rainfall) are favourable.[4] They are partiallymigratory, with northern and northwestern birds wintering across the southern edge of theSahara, inArabia, and in northwesternIndia. The species also breeds in the southern desert regions in northwestern India and Pakistan,[5] and has bred occasionally in southern Spain.[4]
They are rare north of the breeding range, but this species has occurred as far north asFinland,Norway andGreat Britain; they are more regular onMalta, with flocks of up to 30 recorded there.[6]
Cream-coloured coursers are variously cited as 19–21 cm,[3][7] 21–24 cm,[6][8] or 24–27 cm long;[9] the wingspan is 51–57 cm.[6][7] They have long (7–8 cm) legs, long wings, and slightly downcurved bills. The body plumage is sandy in colour, fading to whitish on the lower belly. The outer upperwing and the underwing are black. The crown is grey, grading to blue-grey on the nape, and there is a black eyestripe and a conspicuous white supercilium. The legs are pale grey. Juveniles are mottled dark above, and have a duller head pattern than adults. In flight, this species resembles a pratincole with its relaxed wingbeats, pointed wings and black underwings.[6][7][9]
Threesubspecies are currently accepted:[10]
Birds on the eastern Canary Islands were formerly sometimes treated as a fourth subspeciesC. c. bannermani,[8] but are now included in nominateC. c. cursor.[3][7][10]
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The East African taxalittoralis andsomalensis, currently treated as a separate speciesSomali courser, have in the past been considered as subspecies of cream-coloured courser by some authors,[3][7] or by others as subspecies of the Southern AfricanBurchell's courser.[8]
