Animalia Life

Smutsornis africanus
SUBFAMILY
Cursoriinae
TAXONOMY
Cursorius africanus Temminck, 1807, (Namaqualand), South Africa. Eight well-defined subspecies described, some geographically isolated.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Two-banded courser; French: Courvite б double collier; German: Doppelband-Rennvogel; Spanish: Corredor Escamoso Chico.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
7.9–9.4 in (20–24 cm); 2.0–3.7 oz (56–104 g). Small and graceful with long white legs and a short bill; mostly buff with heavily scaled dorsal plumage and lightly streaked blackish on neck; two bold black bands encircle the mantle and upper breast.
DISTRIBUTION
Discontinuously from South Africa to Somalia and Ethiopia.
HABITAT
Semi-desert with low shrubs, overgrazed grassland, and dry alkaline plains.
BEHAVIOR
A typical courser, but more wary and better camouflaged than most species. Runs very fast when disturbed and in pursuit of prey. May stand behind shrub for concealment. Largely nocturnal in summer, otherwise active by day as well. Mostly solitary or in pairs.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Catches insects by pursuing them on the ground, but does not dig.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeds throughout the year. Lays a single egg on bare ground, usually among antelope droppings or small stones. Both sexes incubate for 26–27 days. Chick leaves the nest site within 48 hours and is fed by the parents for several weeks. Young flies at about six weeks of age.
CONSERVATION STATUS
The double-banded courser is common throughout most of its range and is not in need of special conservation measures.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
None known.

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