Photo: John Gerrard Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Bronze-winged Courser
Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus) is a member of the Glareolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 150 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Glareolidae Coursers, Pratincoles
- Genus Rhinoptilus
- Species chalcopterus
Where it lives
Tropical to subtropical wooded savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa: Senegal east to eastern Sudan and south to northern South Africa
Quick facts
- Weight
- 150 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Glareolidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Bronze-winged Courser is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open woodland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Bronze-winged Courser is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus) is a species of bird in the Glareolidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Africa. Its distribution covers AF tropical to subtropical wooded savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa: Senegal e to e Sudan and s to n South Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 150 g, with a wing length of about 17.5 cm and a tail of around 7.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 10.1 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Bronze-winged Courser?
The Bronze-winged Courser is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 150 g.
Where does the Bronze-winged Courser live?
The Bronze-winged Courser is found across Africa with a range covering AF tropical to subtropical wooded savanna of Sub-Saharan Africa: Senegal e to e Sudan and s to n South Africa, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Bronze-winged Courser belong to?
The Bronze-winged Courser (Rhinoptilus chalcopterus) belongs to the Glareolidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Bronze-winged Courser eat?
The Bronze-winged Courser is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Bronze-winged Courser migrate?
The Bronze-winged Courser is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Bronze-winged Courser endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Bronze-winged Courser make?
1 real field recording of the Bronze-winged Courser — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Bronze-winged Courser's range?
The Bronze-winged Courser has a mapped global range of about 10.1 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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