Home › Aves › Glareolidae › Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus)
SPECIES PROFILE
Indian Courser (Cursorius coromandelicus)
Cursorius
IUCN STATUS
Vulnerable
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable
CLASS
Aves
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Endemic to Indian subcontinent
DIET
Insectivorous
HABITAT
Dry grasslands scrub stony plains
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Aves
ORDER
Charadriiformes
FAMILY
Glareolidae
GENUS
Cursorius
📋 Description
SIZE
26-29 cm long 100-150 g
COLORATION
Brown with white underparts black crown
ADAPTATIONS
Long legs for running cryptic plumage for open terrain
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Dry grasslands scrub stony plains
DIET
Insectivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Endemic to Indian subcontinent
REPRODUCTION
Lays 2-3 eggs in ground scrapes incubated 22-25 days
DIET DETAILS
Insects small invertebrates
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss agricultural intensification
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Indian Runners: Indian Coursers run with 120-gram bodies eating 30 grams of insects daily in Rajasthan's plains. Their black crowns are distinctive.
2
Plain Dwellers: These coursers cover 1000 sq km in Gujarat's scrub nesting on open ground. Grassland conversion threatens their habitat.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Jorbeer Conservation Reserve in Rajasthan
Jamnagar in Gujarat
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round Dry plains ensure visibility for spotting coursers
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Watch Indian coursers running on open ground
