Bronze-winged Courser
Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
The Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus) is a rare coursers and pratincol found in 24 countries, weighing about 150 g. The bronze-winged courser or violet-tipped courser is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae.
About the Bronze-winged Courser
The bronze-winged courser or violet-tipped courser is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae. This species is named for its characteristic bronze-tipped feathers that are visible during flight. It is found living throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting semi-arid savannas and woodlands. This is a nocturnal species which mainly feeds on ground-dwelling insects. Bronze-winged coursers are typically solitary, only forming monogamous pairs for breeding. A female may produce 2-3 eggs per clutch, and the chicks receive parental care from both sexes when young. The bronze-winged courser is considered of Least Concern for conservation status, and is thought to be a very stable species.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The bronze-winged courser is a species of small wading birds with long legs and short wings. The bronze-winged courser is the largest of the coursers, with a body length of 25-29 centimeters, a wingspan up to 58 centimeters, and body weight between 91 and 220 grams. Voice: The bronze-winged courser can be heard by its calls at night, but is otherwise a quiet species.
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Ghana, Central African Republic.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, October, November, December, with peak activity in February. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Bronze-winged Courser?
- The bronze-winged courser is a species of small wading birds with long legs and short wings. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Bronze-winged Courser?
- The Bronze-winged Courser is a medium sized bird weighing about 150 g.
- Where can you see a Bronze-winged Courser?
- The Bronze-winged Courser occurs in 24 countries, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and Botswana.
- What birds look similar to a Bronze-winged Courser?
- The Bronze-winged Courser is most easily confused with the Three-banded Courser and the Jerdon's Courser.
- Is the Bronze-winged Courser endangered?
- The Bronze-winged Courser is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Bronze-winged Courser for real
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