Cursorius
Burchell's courser (Cursorius rufus)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Glareolidae
Subfamily: Cursoriinae
Genus: Cursorius
Latham, 1790
Type species
Cursorius europaeus[1] = Charadrius cursor
Latham, 1790
Species

C. cursor
C. somalensis
C. rufus
C. temminckii
C. coromandelicus

Cursorius is a genus of coursers, a group of wading birds. The genus name derive from Latin cursor meaning "runner".

There are five species which breed in Africa and South Asia. They have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. Although classed as waders, they inhabit deserts and similar arid regions. Like the pratincoles, the coursers are found in warmer parts of the Old World. They hunt insects by sight, pursuing them on foot.

Their 2–3 eggs are laid on the ground.

Taxonomy

The genus Cursorius was introduced in 1790 by the English ornithologist John Latham.[2] The type species was subsequently designated as the cream-colored courser.[3] The genus name is derive from Latin cursor meaning "runner", from currere, "to run".[4]

The genus contains five species:[5]

References

  1. ↑ "Glareolidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ↑ Latham, John (1790). Index Ornithologicus, Sive Systema Ornithologiae: Complectens Avium Divisionem In Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, Ipsarumque Varietates (in Latin). Vol. 2. London: Leigh & Sotheby. p. 751.
  3. ↑ Peters, James Lee, ed. (1934). Check-List of Birds of the World. Vol. 2. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. p. 299.
  4. ↑ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  5. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2022). "Sandpipers, snipes, Crab-plover, coursers". IOC World Bird List Version 12.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
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