Cursorius
Cursorius is a genus of coursers, a group of wading birds. The genus name derive from Latin cursor, "runner", from currere, "to run".[1]
| Cursorius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Burchell's courser (Cursorius rufus) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Glareolidae |
| Subfamily: | Cursoriinae |
| Genus: | Cursorius Latham, 1790 |
| Species | |
|
C. cursor | |
There are five 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
- Cream-colored courser (Cursorius cursor)
- Somali courser (Cursorius somalensis)
- Burchell's courser (Cursorius rufus)
- Temminck's courser (Cursorius temminckii)
- Indian courser (Cursorius coromandelicus)
References
- 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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