Temminck's Courser

Afrikaans name: Trekdrawwertjie

Temminck's Courser

Photo © Steven Herbert

Cursorius temminckii

Temminck's Courser is a bit like a small lapwing. It spends most of its time on the ground in areas with short or very little grass.

Most of their diet consists of insects and they sometimes feed on insects at the edge of grass fires where the catch the insects trying to escape the flames. They do also eat some seeds.

In South Africa the Temminck's Courser is mainly found in the northern and north-eastern regions. It is also found throughout southern Africa and up to the Congo.

They don't build a nest preferring to lay either 1 or 2 eggs on open ground. Both parents tend to the eggs taking short turns at incubating them. Amazingly the chicks are able to move away from the 'nest' area within about 8 hours.

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 82

Shorebirds - Author: P. Hayman, J. Marchant, T. Prater - Published: 1986 - Page: 252

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 47

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 113

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 166

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 196

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 267

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 261

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 198

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 130

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 189

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 130

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 134

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 105

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 32

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 94

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 60

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 151

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 123

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 48

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 151

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 130

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List of South African Birds