Bronze-winged Courser
Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Woodland. Light brown above and on upper breast; dark mask; eyebrows, throat and underparts white; eye-rings and legs red.
Coursers, Pratincoles
LC
Not Endemic
Description
Uncommon visitor and resident. Larger than most other coursers; has red legs and distinctive head markings, these less clearly defined in immature; cf. also [Crowned Lapwing]. Shows a narrow, iridescent purple trailing edge to its outer wings (difficult to see in the field). At night calls a shrill ‘ji-ku-it’ or a plaintive ‘gro-raag’, but like other coursers, not particularly vocal. A nocturnal species of well-wooded regions, especially favouring mopane woodland. Roosts by day beneath bushes and feeds at night in open areas and on roads.
Quick Facts
Size
25 cm - M
Names
A: Bronsvlerkdrawwertjie
Z: unobulongwonsundu
Ss: Mokopjwane Wa Lepheoporonse
G: Bronzeflügel-Rennvogel, Amethystrennvogel
Bird Family
Pratincoles are migratory and nomadic birds with very short legs in relation to the length of their bodies. At rest or in their elegant, often erratic flight they resemble terns. They feed mostly in the air, in flocks. Their calls are of a ‘kip-kip-kip…' nature. The related coursers are more lapwing-like with erect stance, but unlike plovers lack a hind toe; they are terrestrial feeders. Sexes are alike in both groups.
Distribution
Gallery
Behaviour
Breeding
Habitat
A nocturnal species of well-wooded regions, especially favouring 'mopane' woodland.
