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Double-banded Courser | Rhinoptilus africanus
The Double-banded Courser is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Glareolidae bird family group which includes birds such as Coursers, Pratincoles. The description for the Double-banded Courser (Latin name Rhinoptilus africanus) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Rhinoptilus africanus can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 301 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 421. You will find a picture of the Double-banded Courser on page 321. NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any. There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. The Latin name for this bird is Smutsornis africanus in the Roberts 6th Edition. The Double-banded Courser has a height of 25 cms and weighs around 90 gms. The head is coloured grey while the bill is coloured grey. The Rhinoptilus africanus has a grey coloured throat, brown legs and a brown coloured back. The eyes are brown. Take note of the main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size. Colours of body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts. Head is grey Eyes are brown Bill is grey Legs are brown Throat is grey Back is brown Feeding Habits ...This bird forages for food on the ground This bird is a noctunal feeder and is able to forage in the dark because of the enhanced night vision. It also forages at this time because that?s when the prey comes out in the open. This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten . Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...The Double-banded Courser is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 1 eggs and they are coloured white. The bird builds its nest on the ground with figs, straw and leaves. The nest is placed under a bush to protect the young from predators. The Double-banded Courser is mainly found in light and densely wooded forests, where there are Mopane trees. The bird is mainly found in the Savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds. The bird is found in the African bushveld Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...The Double-banded Courser is mainly seen singly or in pairs in the wild. It is also seen in flocks |
