Indian Courser Cursorius coromandelicus Scientific name definitions

The Indian Courser is a striking, rufous-brown "shorebird" with long whitish legs. It inhabits dry open spaces of the Indian Subcontinent, including rocky plains, arid areas with short grass and scattered scrub, and fallow and barren fields. It is mostly resident, but it undertakes local movements outside of the breeding season, especially in the northwestern portion of its range. This species gathers in small flocks outside of the breeding season. It feeds mostly on invertebrates, using a characteristic foraging style that involves short bursts of running followed by stopping to pick prey items from the surface. It nests on the ground, typically laying a clutch of two eggs in a very simple scrape. Parents feed the chicks, which are able to walk away from the nest soon after hatching, for up to two weeks before the young are able to start foraging for themselves. The Indian Courser faces no immediate conservation concerns and remains fairly common across much of its range.