Cream-colored Courser vs Double-banded Courser

Cream-colored Courser

Cursorius cursor

Medium138 gDesert

Cream-coloured coursers are variously cited as 19–21 cm, 21–24 cm, or 24–27 cm long; the wingspan is 51–57 cm. They have long (7–8 cm) legs, long wings, and slightly downcurved bills. The body plumage is sandy in colour, fading to whitish on the lower belly. The outer upperwing and the underwing are black. The crown is grey, grading to blue-grey on the nape, and there is a black eyestripe and a conspicuous white supercilium. The legs are pale grey. Juveniles are mottled dark above, and have a duller head pattern than adults.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Shah Jahan · CC BY 3.0

Double-banded Courser

Smutsornis africanus

Medium88 gDesert

The bird's crown is pale and streaked with brown/black feathers. A narrow black stripe extends from the base of the bill, through the eye to the nape. The cheeks, chin, throat and neck are buff/white flecked with dark brown. The feather of the back and wing coverts are sandy brown with dark centres and broadly edged with white/buff. The short bill is blackish, eyes are dark brown and the legs and feet are pale grey.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Derek Keats · CC BY 2.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Cream-colored Courser and Double-banded Courser.