Jerdon's Courser

The Jerdon's Courser is a nocturnal bird belonging to the pratincole and courser family Glareolidae endemic to India. The bird was discovered by the surgeon-naturalist Thomas C. Jerdon in 1848 but not seen again until its rediscovery in 1986. This courser is a restricted-range endemic found locally in India in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is currently known only from the Sri Lankamalleshwara Sanctuary, where it inhabits sparse scrub forest with patches of bare ground.

The Jerdon's Courser is classified as Critically Endangered (CR), facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.

The Jerdon's Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus) is a nocturnal bird belonging to the pratincole and courser family Glareolidae endemic to India. The bird was discovered by the surgeon-naturalist Thomas C. Jerdon in 1848 but not seen again until its rediscovery in 1986. This courser is a restricted-range endemic found locally in India in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh. It is currently known only from the Sri Lankamalleshwara Sanctuary, where it inhabits sparse scrub forest with patches of bare ground. More

Jerdon's Courser (Cursorius bitorquatus) one of the rarest birds in the world. Before its rediscovery by the Bombay Natural History Society in January 1986, this bird had been last recorded in 1900. Since then it was not seen despite several expeditions from 1930 onwards which led to the presumption that the species may be extinct. It is known only in Anantapur, Cuddapah and Nellore in the Pennar river valley and Bhadrachalam and Sironcha in the Godavari river valley of Andhra Pradesh. More

Rare nocturnal bird Jerdon's Courser sighted in Andhra Mumbai | Friday, Aug 28 2009 IST The critically endangered Jerdon's Courser, a ground bird found in scrub jungles, has been spotted in the Cuddapah district of Andhra Pradesh after many years by a team of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). More

Because of its specialised habitat requirements, Jerdon's Courser is endemic to the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh and extreme southern Madhya Pradesh, India. Believed to number no more than 50 individuals, the bird was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in Andhra Pradesh 22 years ago. The rediscovery led the Andhra Pradesh government to establish the Sri Lankamalleswara Wildlife Sanctuary, to protect the courser's habitat of scrub forest interspersed with bare ground in the gently rolling, rocky foothills of the Eastern Ghats. More

Critically Endangered Jerdon's Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus have been stepped up again, after three years in which resources had to be diverted to a successful campaign against the construction of the Teluga Ganga Canal through the bird’s last known stronghold, in eastern India. Construction of the canal went ahead in spite of a legal requirement that work should not continue until a large area of the courser’s scrub jungle home had been transferred to Andra Pradesh's Forestry Department for protection. More

The kalivi-kodi was indeed Jerdon's Courser and it was alive and well! User's Comments btseshasayee Your article on Jerdon's Courser is too brief. Its history and range of habitat needs elaboration. Thankyou. Kanna Kumar .S I want to know a little more about this magnificient bird and I am sure you will help me out. More

Jerdon's Courser Rhinoptilus bitorquatus is a small, nocturnal ground-dwelling wading bird that was discovered in central India around 1848 by Dr T C Jerdon, a British Army Medical Officer. A few sporadic sightings followed until the turn of the 20th century, but then the species was seemingly lost. Eighty-six years passed before its remarkable rediscovery in the State of Andhra Pradesh by Bharat Bhushan from the Bombay Natural History Society (BirdLife in India). More

The Jerdon's Courser is the latest endangered species to be caught in the path of unregulated development. Its habitat in wildlife sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh is threatened by illegal construction activity within the protected lands, and environmental activists have taken the matter to court. Kanchi Kohli reports. 03 March 2006 - A canal to quench the thirst for 'development'; an endangered bird and its habitat; construction within a wildlife sanctuary; the Supreme Court of India. More

The Jerdon's Courser belongs to the Glareolidae family which includes two distinct groups: the pratincoles & the coursers. Glareolidae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadri. Unlike waders, birds belonging to this family inhabit deserts and similar arid regions. The key feature that characterizes this family is the arched bill with the nostrils placed at the base. © Nik Indian Courser showing characteristic bill & nostril. More

THE JERDON'S COURSER Bird Special cancellation The Special cover issued on 1st October 2005 CUDDAPEX Philatelic Exhibition. THE JERDON'S COURSER (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), or Kalivi Kodi (in Telugu) has been one of the most intriguing and secretive birds Known to nature. Ripley and Beehler in 1989 affirmed the genus 'Rhinoptilus' after its nocturnal nature. Spotted and used for scientific purposes by the British surgeon, Dr. T. C. Jerdon (during his terture in the Hyderabad State, especially in Cuddapah) around 1848,. More

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Jerdon's Courser, one of the world's rarest birds, threatened with extinction. = 22/12/2006 00:00:00 Jerdon's Courser sites - * Three additional sites for Jerdon's courser have been discovered in recent years, all within 14 km of the original rediscovery site. Unfortunately, one of these sites has already been destroyed by the recent canal construction. More

Jerdon's Courser, seen for the first time for several years. Photo credit Simon Cook. Triple helping of good news for Jerdon's Courser September 2009. Two Jerdon's Coursers have been seen in the Cudaapah District of Andhra Pradesh, the first confirmed sighting for two years. More

Picture of Rhinoptilus bitorquatus above has been licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.
Original source: L. Shyamal
Author: L. Shyamal
Permission: Some rights reserved
Order : Charadriiformes
Family : Glareolidae
Genus : Rhinoptilus
Species : bitorquatus
Authority : (Blyth, 1848)