Behavior

Walking, Running, Hopping, Climbing, etc.

Like many coursers, Temminck's Courser is a fast runner and will attempt to run from danger rather than take flight (121 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history Notes on East Cape Bird Species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ).

Flight

When taking flight in response to a ground-based threat, all individuals present usually take off together and typically only fly about 50 m before landing again. If pressed repeatedly, they usually fly out of sight. Escape flights are generally low, less than 15 m, but flights related to longer-distance movements are much higher (>50 m). The species' flight is fast but jerky, reminiscent of the flight of lapwings, usually returning to the ground in a long, straight glide.

Preening, Head-Scratching, Stretching, Sunbathing, Bathing, Anting, etc.

Self-maintenance activities such as preening, head-scratching, and wing and leg stretching are regularly performed between foraging bouts. Temminck's Courser also frequently engages in dust bathing, a behavior that has not previously been reported in the literature. An individual will either excavate a shallow depression or use an existing one to perform dust bathing, during which soil is flicked onto the dorsal surface and underparts, and the head and neck are rubbed in the soil (2 Engelbrecht, D. (2025). Notes on the behaviour and breeding biology of Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii. The Lark 58:79–86. Close ). Dust bathing is followed by vigorous body shaking, wing stretching, and tail wagging. Frequent dust-bathing not only forms part of an individual's feather maintenance regime but, in many ground-living species, it also confers a degree of substrate color-matching to the feathers, which enhances camouflage in the open terrain this species inhabits. Frequent dust bathing, which aids in substrate color-matching, is also commonly observed in other ground-living species inhabiting open areas largely devoid of cover (125 Willoughby, E. J. (1974). Desert coloration in birds of the central Namib Desert. Scientific Papers of the Namib Desert Research Station 44:39–68. Close , 126 Donald, P. F, P. Alström, and D. Engelbrecht (2017). Possible mechanisms of substrate colour-matching in larks (Alaudidae) and their taxonomic implications. Ibis 159 (3):699–702. Close ). Wing flapping is often performed at the end of a preening bout, when a bird experiences anxiety, or before taking flight. During wing flapping, the wings are raised high above the body, followed by a few wing flaps on the spot, during which the individual barely leaves the ground. Head scratching is direct.

Sleeping, Roosting

Individuals sleep in loose-knit groups, a few meters apart, in open areas with plenty of bare ground, such as heavily grazed areas or fallow fields (127 Tree, A. J. (1978). The roosting habits of Charadriiformes in Rhodesia. Safring News 7:2–7. Close , 2 Engelbrecht, D. (2025). Notes on the behaviour and breeding biology of Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii. The Lark 58:79–86. Close ). Roosting individuals either sit on the ground or squat on their tarsi.

Daily Time Budget

Temminck's Courser is mainly diurnal, but it may forage in open areas on moonlit nights (G. D. Engelbrecht, personal observation).

Physical and Communicative Interactions

Breeding adults sometimes display aggressive behavior towards immature birds, charging at them with their heads held low, chest puffed out, and wings held open and forward to make them appear bigger than they are (121 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history Notes on East Cape Bird Species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close , 128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close , 2 Engelbrecht, D. (2025). Notes on the behaviour and breeding biology of Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii. The Lark 58:79–86. Close , Nest Record Card Scheme, unpublished data).

Territorial Behavior

Males are said to perform noisy, territorial display flights in the early morning and evening, occasionally at night (122 Evans, M. I., and A. Balmford (1992). Birds in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Scopus 16:34–49. Close , 123 Barlow, C. R. (2002). First nest record for Bronze-winged Courser Cursorius chalcopterus in Senegambia. Bulletin of the African Bird Club 9(2):134–135. Close , 47 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ), but Engelbrecht (2 Engelbrecht, D. (2025). Notes on the behaviour and breeding biology of Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii. The Lark 58:79–86. Close ) questions this. According to Evans and Balmford, display flights last 1–3 min, during which males fly in a large circuit ~20 m above the ground while calling before gliding down to land close to the initial take-off point (122 Evans, M. I., and A. Balmford (1992). Birds in the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Scopus 16:34–49. Close ). However, the sexes are alike, and it is therefore impossible to sex the displaying birds. Additionally, based on the description provided, nothing distinguishes the display flights from the flights of birds that have taken to the air due to disturbance. The occurrence of territorial display flights in the species needs confirmation. Pairs generally nest well apart, suggesting there may be some form of territorial behavior. A more detailed description of the display flight of Temminck's Courser, if it exists, is needed.

Mating System and Operational Sex Ratio

The species is monogamous (129 Maclean, G. L., and E. K. Urban (1986). Double-banded Courser Cursorius africanus Temminck. In The Birds of Africa. Volume 2 (E. K. Urban, C. H. Fry, and S. Keith, Editors). Academic Press, London, UK. pp. 213–215. Close , 128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ), but no information is available on the operational sex ratio.

Courtship, Copulation, and Pair Bond

According to Cannell (130 Cannell, I. C. (1963). Temminck's Courser. Honeyguide 42:9 Close ), Temminck's Courser has three types of courtship displays, namely 1) bobbing up and down with the breast thrust forward, 2) bobbing with the body thrust backward and the back hunched, and 3) squatting for short periods with the head held low and the tail up. However, the first two displays are not courtship displays but ritualized displays associated with anxiety (see Nonpredatory Interspecific Interactions). The third display refers to the post-copulatory display of the female. Courtship begins with the male performing an elaborate nest construction and brooding ritual (128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ). The male would toss objects such as grass blades, animal droppings, and soil as if constructing a nest and then perform mock-brooding. The female then solicits the male by crouching with her head held horizontally just above the ground. The male, in turn, would approach the female and mount her, spreading his wings before copulating. After copulation, the male dismounts and walks off. The female, in turn, straightens her legs but keeps her head close to the ground, opens her wings while folding them forward, and erects her tail feathers (128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ). Copulation occurs mainly in the morning, and pairs copulate frequently. For example, during a 2-hour observation period, a pair mated about once every six minutes. Courtship rituals may begin as many as seven days before incubation commences and may continue for a couple of days thereafter (128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ).

Extra-Pair Mating Behavior/Paternity

Study needed.

Brood Parasitism of Conspecifics

Not recorded but considered unlikely.

Brood Parasitism of Other Species

Coursers are not brood parasites.

Degree of Sociality

It is one of the more social courser species, often encountered in flocks of 4–6 individuals, but loose flocks of >30 and up to 80 individuals have been recorded (127 Tree, A. J. (1978). The roosting habits of Charadriiformes in Rhodesia. Safring News 7:2–7. Close , 13 Clancey, P. A. (1984). Geographical variation and post-breeding dispersal in Temminck’s Courser of the Afrotropics. Gerfaut 74(4):361–374. Close , 99 Brewster, C. A. (1991). Birds of the Gumare area, northwest Botswana. Babbler 21/22:12–61. Close , 131 Duprée, J., and P. Feather (1998). A concentration of Temminck's Coursers at Aisleby, Bulawayo. Honeyguide 44:143–144. Close , 67 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close , 47 Dowsett-Lemaire, F., and R. J. Dowsett (2014). The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook. Tauraco Press, Liège, Belgium. Close ). In Ethiopia and Eritrea, where group sizes are invariably ≦6 individuals, 77% of counts comprise 1–2 birds, and 23% comprise 3–6 individuals (n = 22 counts) (67 Ash, J. S., and J. Atkins (2009). Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution. Christopher Helm, London, UK. Close ). While foraging during the day, individuals are usually widely spaced, but when threatened, the flock usually takes off together. At night, several individuals typically roost within a few meters of each other (127 Tree, A. J. (1978). The roosting habits of Charadriiformes in Rhodesia. Safring News 7:2–7. Close ).

Play

Not recorded and considered unlikely.

Nonpredatory Interspecific Interactions

Temminck's Courser has several displays commonly associated with anxiety, including a display commonly known as a "plover's bow" (132 Daanje, A. (1950). On locomotory movements in birds and the intension movements derived from them. Behaviour 3:48–98. Close ), a "bobbing" display, and a "foot-stomping" display (128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ). Both sexes perform all three of these displays. The plover's bow starts with a few successive forward thrusts of the chest while the head and neck are drawn back until the chest is abnormally puffed out. The body is then lowered down and slightly backward as if trying to push its tail onto the surface, and then it is raised and pushed forward while the head and neck remain still (128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ). This display was erroneously described as a courtship display by Cannell (130 Cannell, I. C. (1963). Temminck's Courser. Honeyguide 42:9 Close ), and this misconception has subsequently become entrenched in the literature. However, it is not necessarily directly associated with breeding behavior but is usually performed when an individual is stressed, e.g., when chicks are threatened, or it is a departure intention movement similar to the display performed by the Double-banded Courser (Smutsornis africanus). The bobbing display is a variation of the plover's bow, resembling a rolling of the shoulders type of movement whereby the body is raised and lowered in a vertical plane while the head is kept still and at one level (128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ). Foot-stomping involves rapidly stamping the feet on one spot for 1–2 s ( 128 Engelbrecht, D., and R. Engelbrecht (2006). Temminck’s Courser. Heading for burn-out. Africa Birds and Birding 11(3):32–38. Close ).

Kinds of Predators

Few predators have been recorded. Gray Kestrel (Falco ardosiaceus) is known to prey on the young of the Temminck's Courser (133 Brown, L. H. (1982). Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus Vieillot. In The Birds of Africa. Volume 1 (L. H. Brown, E. K. Urban, K. Newman, Editors). Academic Press, London, UK. pp. 453–454. Close ), and the species has been recorded in the diet of Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) nestlings in the Soutpanberg region, northern South Africa (134 Jenkins, A. R., and G. M. Avery (1999). Diets of breeding Peregrine and Lanner Falcons in South Africa. Journal of Raptor Research 33(3):190–206. Close ). In East Africa, it is occasionally preyed upon by the Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax) (135 Smeenk, C. (1974). Comparative ecological studies of some East African birds of prey. Ardea 62(1):1–97. Close ). The species, especially the eggs and chicks, is likely to fall prey to a variety of reptiles, predatory birds, and small mammals.

Manner of Depredation

Information needed.

Response to Predators

Aerial predators are likely posing a significant threat to these coursers in the open habitats the species frequents. Temminck's Courser is highly vigilant and frequently scans the sky for potential threats. If a potential threat is detected, an individual may remain motionless and keep a close eye on it until the danger has passed. Alternatively, if the opportunity permits, it may run away in a slightly crouched manner, often heading for the nearest structure that can offer disruptive camouflage, such as a dung midden or strewn rocks (D. E. Engelbrecht, personal observation). They may also crouch low, possibly to avoid casting a shadow, as a strategy to evade detection.

An incubating adult was chased off the nest by a pair of Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus), but the plovers took no further notice of the nest (2 Engelbrecht, D. (2025). Notes on the behaviour and breeding biology of Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii. The Lark 58:79–86. Close ). In another instance, a Crowned Lapwing chased a brooding pair of Temminck's Courser, but when the plover got too close to the brooding parent and chick, it performed a diversionary display by crouching with its wings spread and arched and with its body swaying from side to side (121 Skead, C. J. (1995). Life-history Notes on East Cape Bird Species (1940–1990). Volume 1. Algoa Regional Services Council, Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Close ). When the plover got too close, it would fly a short distance and repeat the display. A Pied Crow (Corvus albus) circling low over the nesting area caused the attending parent to slip off the nest and run away crouched, leaving the eggs unattended (2 Engelbrecht, D. (2025). Notes on the behaviour and breeding biology of Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii. The Lark 58:79–86. Close ). However, the eggs are extremely well camouflaged, and leaving the eggs unattended amongst the burnt stubble is arguably a more appropriate defense strategy than sitting tight under such circumstances.

Parents with young will perform a broken-wing display or perform false brooding to lure a potential threat away from the chicks.