Temminck's courser is a bird in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae. It is a wader which lives in sub-Saharan Africa. It is noted for laying its dark ash-black eggs in the burnt bushes and grass of the African savannah.
Region
Sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Found patchily across dry savannas, open grasslands, and lightly wooded areas with extensive bare ground. It favors recently burned landscapes where its eggs and plumage are well camouflaged. Often uses overgrazed pastures, stony flats, and sparsely vegetated Acacia savannas. Avoids dense vegetation and wetlands, keeping to open, dry terrain.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Temminck's courser is a ground-dwelling wader of African savannas that often appears soon after grass fires. It famously lays dark ash-black eggs directly on burnt ground, where they are almost invisible. The species relies on swift running to chase insects and only takes short, low flights when disturbed.
Temperament
wary and alert, swift runner
Flight Pattern
low, fast flight with short rapid wingbeats and brief glides
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly, in pairs, or small groups, especially after fires. Ground-nesting; the single egg (occasionally two) is laid on bare, burnt soil and both parents share incubation. Performs distraction displays to draw predators away from the nest. Pairs are thought to be seasonally monogamous.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Generally quiet; gives soft, whistled calls and sharp piping notes, especially at dusk and night. Alarm calls are short, repeated chips given while running or during low flushes.
Plumage
Sandy-buff upperparts with a clean, pale buff underside and a strikingly patterned head. The crown is dark with bold white supercilia that meet in a V at the nape, separated by a black crown stripe and eye-line. Wings are darker with rufous tones on the coverts and primaries; tail shows white outer feathers in flight.
Diet
Feeds mainly on terrestrial insects such as termites, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers, taken by rapid runs and quick jabs of the bill. Also picks small invertebrates from ash and bare soil after fires. Occasionally hawks short distances for flying insects disturbed by heat or wind.
Preferred Environment
Open, sparsely vegetated ground, recently burned grassland, and lightly grazed savanna. Frequently forages along fire fronts or in newly burned patches where prey is concentrated and visibility is high.
