Courser

Rennvogel ( Cursorius cursor)

The racing birds ( Cursoriinae ) are a subfamily of the Pratincole -like, which belong to the order Charadriiformes. At this subfamily the racing birds or desert runners include ( genera Cursorius, Rhinoptilus and Smutsornis ) with about 9 species and the crocodile monitor ( Pluvianus genus with 1 species ).

It is about big choke up on the crocodile guards quite leggy, plover -like visual fighter. In contrast to the Pratincoles ( Glareolinae ) the food is usually hunted on the ground. The wings are long and pointed, but not as sharp as in the Pratincoles, as these mostly the outer primary feather is the longest ( at the race birds the penultimate 2-3). The three-toed foot is missing the rear, fourth toe of Pratincoles. The middle toe is much longer than the outer and pronounced up to the Crocodile monitor as a comb-like plaster claw.

The crocodile guards differs in habitat choice and breeding behavior. He inhabited the shores and sand banks of the African rivers, all other species are birds of open, dry wasteland - they come in dry savannas and fallow land, half or sometimes even stone or sand deserts before. The crocodile Guardian lays its eggs partly over each other in the sand and covered it, as well as later in danger the boys so. All other species lay the usually round oval eggs on the ground without a trough to scratch, occasionally natural wells are used.

All species inhabit the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World.

The parent family Pratincole -like ( Glareolidae ) is closely related to the plovers ( Charadriidae ) and especially by the Australian ring Rennvogel ( Peltohyas australis ) which has in many ways similar to the racing birds, connected in particular with the Cursoriinae. This was therefore occasionally also assigned to the Pratincole -like.

Species

  • Cursorius Rennvogel ( Cursorius cursor) - Africa and Asia
  • Rust Rennvogel ( Cursorius rufus) - Southern. Africa
  • Somali Rennvogel ( Cursorius somalensis ) - Africa
  • Temminckrennvogel ( Cursorius temminckii ) - Africa
  • Koromandelrennvogel ( Cursorius coromandelicus ) - Asia
  • Amethystrennvogel ( Rhinoptilus chalcopterus ) - Africa
  • Binding Rennvogel ( Rhinoptilus cinctus ) - Africa
  • Godavari Rennvogel ( Rhinoptilus bitorquatus ) - India
  • Dual-band Rennvogel ( Smutsornis africanus africanus or Rhinoptilus ) - Africa
  • Crocodile monitor ( Pluvianus aegyptius ) - Africa
Grooming claw
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