Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Somali Courser
Cursorius somalensis
Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
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The Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis) is a member of the Glareolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 138 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 Cursorius
- Species somalensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 138 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Glareolidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Somali Courser is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of arid, desert country, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Somali Courser is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis) is a member of the Glareolidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF tropical semiarid ne Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 138 g, with a wing length of about 12.9 cm and a tail of around 4.7 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 1.1 million km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Somali Courser?
The Somali Courser is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 138 g.
Where does the Somali Courser live?
The Somali Courser is found across Africa with a range covering AF tropical semiarid ne Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Somali Courser belong to?
The Somali Courser (Cursorius somalensis) belongs to the Glareolidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Somali Courser eat?
The Somali Courser is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Somali Courser migrate?
The Somali Courser is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Somali 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.
How large is the Somali Courser's range?
The Somali Courser has a mapped global range of about 1.1 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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