The double-banded courser, also known as the two-banded courser, is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae.
Region
East and Southern Africa
Typical Environment
Occurs patchily from the Horn of Africa through Kenya and Tanzania to Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa. Prefers open, sparsely vegetated habitats such as gravel plains, stony semi-deserts, and dry savannas. It often uses areas with short grass, bare soil, or burned patches where visibility is high. The species avoids dense vegetation and rugged rocky slopes, favoring relatively flat ground. Local movements may follow rains and insect emergences.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The double-banded courser is a ground-dwelling bird of arid Africa, famous for the two bold black breast bands that give it its name. It relies heavily on camouflage, freezing motionless against stony, sandy ground when threatened. It runs swiftly to snatch insects, especially at dusk and night. Nests are simple scrapes on open ground, typically with a single, well-camouflaged egg.
R. a. hartingi
A double-banded courser in Tierpark Hagenbeck, Hamburg, Germany
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low fast dashes
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, sometimes family groups after breeding. Territorial on breeding grounds, with both adults guarding a small area. Nest is a shallow scrape on open ground, holding typically a single, cryptically patterned egg; both sexes incubate and tend the chick. Activity increases in the cooler hours, with much time spent standing motionless to avoid detection.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations are soft, high-pitched whistles and piping notes, most often given at night or during twilight. Alarm calls are sharper, clipped notes delivered when flushed from close range.
Plumage
Sandy-buff to fawn upperparts finely mottled for superb camouflage; clean whitish underparts marked by two distinct black breast bands separated by a pale band.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects such as beetles, termites, ants, and grasshoppers. It hunts by standing still and then running in short bursts to snatch prey from the ground. After rains, it concentrates around termite emergences and other insect swarms. It may also glean small invertebrates from bare soil and short turf.
Preferred Environment
Forages in open, sparsely vegetated flats, gravel plains, and short-grass savannas with abundant bare ground. Often selects recently burned areas or disturbed patches where prey is more visible.
