The Jerdon’s courser hails from southern India. They prefer sparse scrub forest with bare patches of ground and tall grass. Due to habitat destruction and loss at the hands of ranching, farming, logging, mining, and quarrying; hunting; trapping; and general human disturbance, these birds are listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. They only number an estimated 249 wild individuals, as of 2017. Their numbers are also decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Rhinoptilus bitorquatus
Weight: Up to 7.76 ounces
Length: Up to 11.42 inches
Wingspan: Up to 22.83 inches
Lifespan: Unknown
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These birds were first discovered by the surgeon-naturalist Thomas C. Jerdon in 1848, but they weren’t seen again until their rediscovery in 1986.
2.) They have a very restricted range, that being the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.
3.) “Twick-too…twick-too… twick-too” or “yak-wak… yak-wak” calls are made to communicate with each other. The calls are repeated 1 per second and uttered up to 16 times. The other birds all typically join in on the chorus.
4.) Jerdon’s coursers are nocturnal (active at night).
5.) The name of Kalivi kodi was given to these birds by the Telugu people.
But wait, there’s more on the Jerdon’s courser!
6.) These birds are insectivores (eat insects).
7.) They tend to run, rather than fly, when danger rears its head.
Did you know…?
The Indian Postal Service released a stamp to commemorate the rediscovery of these birds, in 1988.
8.) It is presumed that females lay up to 3 eggs, but a single egg seems to be more realistic.
9.) The Jerdon’s courser is thought to be seasonally monogamous (mates with 1 partner each season).
10.) It was thought that these birds were extinct, until 1986, when they were rediscovered.
Now a Short Jerdon’s Courser Video!
This video talks of 10 sought after birds, #1 of which is the Jerdon’s courser.
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
Photo credit: Simon Cook/Birdlife International
