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THE BREEDING BIOLOGY. AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE DOUBLEBANDED COURSER RHZNOPTZLUS AFRZCANUS (TEMMINCK)
Author(s) -
Maclean G. L.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1967.tb00025.x
Subject(s) - nest (protein structural motif) , seasonal breeder , ecology , biology , zoology , incubation , biochemistry
Summary In the southwestern part of the Kalahari region, the Double‐banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus is restricted to stony terrain with low vegetation and good visibility. Nests are always exposed, usually on flat ground, less often in hollows or slopes, and seldom on rises. Sixty per cent of nests were among mammal droppings. Nest relief is rapid and occurs every two hours or so; side‐throwing of small objects around the nest by the relieved bird is part of the ceremony. Incubation of the single egg takes about 26 days. The newly‐hatched chick is weak and is fed exclusively by the parents for the first few days. It can fly at about six weeks of age. Breeding seems to be continuous, regardless of weather and season. The calls, displays, comfort movements and ritualized intention movements are described and analysed as far as possible. Adult coursers are subjected to an intense heat load in summer, and have a number of behavioural heat‐loss mechanisms which are described and discussed. R. africanus and Cursorius rufus (both common coursers of the Kalahari) are briefly compared.