Jerdon’s Courser, a critically endangered bird endemic to Andhra Pradesh, has not been visually seen for over a decade.
About the Jerdon’s Courser:
- Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) is a nocturnal bird endemic to the Eastern Ghats in India and belongs to the Glareolidae family.
- It was named after Thomas C. Jerdon and first discovered in 1848, then rediscovered in 1986 after being presumed extinct for over 85 years.
- The bird measures 27 cm in length and features large eyes for night vision, a short yellow bill with a black tip, yellow legs, and a brown body with two white breastbands and a white eyebrow.
- Its diet is insectivorous, primarily hunting invertebrates by sight.
- Jerdon’s Courser inhabits scrub forests with both thorny and non-thorny plants, along with bare patches of earth, preferring undisturbed scrub jungle habitats in the Eastern Ghats.
- Its distribution is within Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, primarily in the Sri Lankamaleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, but its range is highly restricted and fragmented.
- Threats include habitat destruction, infrastructure projects, and illegal trapping.
- The IUCN Red List classifies it as Critically Endangered, and it is protected under Schedule I of the WPA, 1972.
- Conservation efforts are global, listing it among the 50 rarest birds in the world, and nationally, it is included in India’s Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme.
Ref: Source
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Where is Jerdon’s Courser endemic to and what family does it belong to?
Jerdon’s Courser is endemic to the Eastern Ghats in India and belongs to the Glareolidae family.
Who was Jerdon’s Courser named after and when was it first discovered?
Jerdon’s Courser was named after Thomas C. Jerdon and was first discovered in 1848.
What are some physical characteristics of Jerdon’s Courser?
Jerdon’s Courser measures 27 cm in length with large eyes for night vision, a short yellow bill with a black tip, yellow legs, a brown body, two white breastbands, and a white eyebrow.
What is Jerdon’s Courser’s diet?
Jerdon’s Courser has an insectivorous diet and primarily hunts invertebrates by sight.
What type of habitat does Jerdon’s Courser prefer?
Jerdon’s Courser inhabits scrub forests with thorny and non-thorny plants, along with bare patches of earth, preferring undisturbed scrub jungle habitats in the Eastern Ghats.