Birds · Charadriiformes · Glareolidae

Cream-coloured Courser

Cursorius cursor

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

A charadriiform bird of arid country, sand-coloured so that it blends into the ground it lives on, with long legs and an upright stance. It runs along the ground instead of flying when it feels threatened, the behaviour its name comes from. Adults reach a size similar to or slightly larger than a blackbird.

Weight

129 g on average

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

In pairs

Usually lives in pairs, sometimes for life.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

Estimated population

The most recent surveys estimate a reduction of between 35% and 50% in the national population over the period 2005-2012

DesertInsectivore Diurnal In pairs Bird Desert

18countries 21parks1same family

Fun facts

It builds no nest: it lays its eggs straight onto bare ground, relying on the camouflage of its sandy colour.
On the Iberian Peninsula there are a few accepted records, almost all of them in spring, coastal and southern, including one confirmed case of breeding in Almería in 2001.
Despite being a Saharan bird, it has been recorded as a vagrant at latitudes as far north as Finland, Ireland and Great Britain.
It builds no nest: it lays its eggs directly on the stony ground. Almost the entire European population of the species is concentrated on Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Arid and semi-desert country. Its main world range is the Sahel belt and the Arabian Peninsula, with scattered breeding pockets north of the Sahara. In Spain its population is concentrated almost entirely on Lanzarote and Fuerteventura
Litter / clutch size: 2-3 eggs laid directly on the ground: it builds no nest

Sources consulted: SEO/BirdLife (ficha y Libro Rojo de las Aves de España 2021); Catálogo Español de Especies Amenazadas; IUCN Red List (BirdLife International 2012); Bernis et al. 1996, Ardeola (nombres castellanos SEO); Animalia.bio; Latham 1787