GAMBIA BIRD SPECIES

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Overview

The Bronze-winged Courser is an elegant, mainly nocturnal ground bird of open African woodland. Seeing its metallic wing sheen in a vehicle’s soft light is a special inland birding experience.

Identification

It has long legs, a large dark eye, patterned head and breast, and cryptic brown upperparts. In flight or display, bronze-green secondary feathers provide the feature behind its name.

Habitat and behaviour

Coursers favour open woodland, burnt ground, tracks and sparsely vegetated savannah. They run swiftly after insects and become most active from dusk through the night, often freezing when detected.

Birdwatching in The Gambia

Potential habitat occurs in inland areas, including open country around Tendaba and farther east. Encounters are unpredictable and depend on careful night driving or walking where access is permitted.

Field note

Use light sparingly, never pursue a bird and give it room to move away. Lamin Jobaate can conduct a responsible evening search while explaining how to distinguish coursers from Senegal Thick-knees and nightjars.

Plan your birdwatching tour: Ask Lamin Jobaate about a private itinerary for this species and The Gambia’s other outstanding birds.