Jerdon's courser

Jerdon's courser
PJeganathan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Jerdon's courser
Status	Critically Endangered
Status system	IUCN3.1
Genus	Rhinoptilus
Species	bitorquatus
Authority	(Jerdon, 1848)

Jerdon's courser is a critically endangered nocturnal bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent, first described in the mid-19th century and famous for its elusiveness and conservation drama. The species has attracted attention from naturalists, ornithologists, conservationists, and governments due to its restricted range, cryptic behavior, and the high-profile rediscovery that galvanized field surveys and habitat protection efforts. Its plight has involved interactions among institutions, researchers, and legal frameworks across India and beyond.

Taxonomy and Description

Rhinoptilus bitorquatus was described by Thomas C. Jerdon in 1848, and subsequent taxonomic treatment has been discussed by authorities including the British Ornithologists' Union, the American Ornithologists' Union, and regional experts at institutions such as the Bombay Natural History Society, Zoological Survey of India, and the Natural History Museum, London. Morphological comparison with related species in the family Glareolidae—such as the Indian courser and species in the genus Glareola—has featured in monographs by ornithologists associated with the Linnean Society of London and journals like The Ibis and Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. The bird is characterized by cryptic brownish plumage, a short decurved bill, stout legs, and diagnostic markings that were compared by early collectors like Edward Blyth and later described in faunal surveys by Salim Ali and S. Dillon Ripley.

Distribution and Habitat

Historically recorded from the region of Andhra Pradesh and the Eastern Ghats, the species' distribution has been debated in field notes stored in archives of the Royal Society and regional museums like the Sri Venkateswara University Museum. Documented localities include scrublands and sparse deciduous terrain near towns and landscapes administered by entities such as the Government of Andhra Pradesh and district administrations like Vijayanagaram district. Habitat descriptions in expedition reports reference vegetation types studied by botanists associated with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, and these landscapes overlap with protected area discussions involving agencies like the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (India) and Wildlife Institute of India.

Ecology and Behavior

Field observations by teams from organizations including the Bombay Natural History Society, BirdLife International, and university groups (for example, researchers from University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and Madras Christian College) have documented nocturnal foraging behavior, skulking movement through leaf litter, and insectivorous diet components resembling those studied in other Glareolidae species. Reports linking behavior to seasonal cycles cite climatic data from the India Meteorological Department and hydrological patterns monitored by the Central Water Commission. Comparative studies have referenced ecological theory developed by researchers affiliated with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and conservation biologists from institutions like the Smithsonian Institution and Conservation International.

Conservation Status and Threats

The species is listed as Critically Endangered under criteria applied by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and has been the subject of legal and policy debate involving the National Biodiversity Authority (India), the Supreme Court of India, and state-level wildlife departments. Threats identified in government reports and NGO assessments by groups such as Centre for Science and Environment, WWF-India, and TRAFFIC include habitat loss from agricultural expansion documented by the Food and Agriculture Organization and infrastructure projects reviewed by the National Highways Authority of India and energy planners at the Ministry of Power (India). Fire regimes, grazing pressure, and invasive species impacts were assessed in studies coordinated with universities such as IISc Bangalore and research centers like the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment.

Discovery, Rediscovery, and Research History

Originally described in the 19th century by Thomas C. Jerdon, the species faded from scientific attention until targeted searches in the late 20th century culminated in a high-profile rediscovery in 1986 by a team involving the Bombay Natural History Society and state forest officials, with subsequent confirmations involving personnel from the Wildlife Trust of India and international collaborators from institutions such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and BirdLife International. The rediscovery prompted surveys supported by funders including the UNESCO and bilateral cooperation with universities like University of Delhi and University of Hyderabad. Peer-reviewed accounts appeared in journals such as The Ibis and proceedings of conferences organized by societies like the Ornithological Society of India.

Conservation Efforts and Management Plans

Post-rediscovery conservation initiatives have engaged a wide array of stakeholders: state wildlife departments, central ministries, NGOs including Bombay Natural History Society and Wildlife Trust of India, and international partners like BirdLife International and IUCN. Management plans discussed in workshops convened by the Wildlife Institute of India and funded projects involving the World Bank and corporate social responsibility programs of companies registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (India) have included habitat protection, fire management, community engagement with local panchayats, and awareness campaigns drawing on expertise from academics at Jawaharlal Nehru University and practitioners from Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment. Legal protections, site notification processes, and policy instruments have been debated in forums involving the National Green Tribunal and legislative committees of the Parliament of India.

Category:Birds of India Category:Critically endangered animals