Rhinoptilus chalcopterus
Records: 3
Drafted by: Faansie Peacock
Draft Text Last Updated: 14 June 2005
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Distribution: Recorded at Buffelsdrift Conservancy on 17 February 2002 and 1 November 2002 (R. Geddes) and at Rietvlei NR on 25 February 2004 (R. Geyser).
Gaps in Knowledge: Extent and nature of movements are unclear and complicated.
Habitat: Normally associated with savanna ecosystems where it inhabits areas with an open understorey, such as overgrazed or recently burnt areas, or a weakly developed shrub layers. At night it may wander into unusual habitats while foraging, and there are unsubstantiated reports from suburban areas in SE Pretoria. More often however, it is encountered on dirt roads at night, or heard giving a plaintive, whining call while flying overhead at night.
Status and movements: In South Africa it is rare, irregular and patchily distributed outside of the Limpopo valley and lowveld areas. As with all coursers, movements are complicated and unclear. This is especially true of this largely nocturnal and relatively silent species (SABAP 1: 450). Possibly resident in small numbers, but migrants from countries nearer to the equator, which are displaced after high rainfall deems habitat unsuitable, augment the South African population between November & May. The PCC/BiG birds are most likely of these migratory birds, which return to their breeding grounds in the dry season, when ground cover is reduced.
Population: Its occurrence in the PCC/BiG region is marginal and the population is probably <100 birds. It is encountered singly or in pairs.
Conservation: Not threatened. Roadkill may pose a significant threat to this species (Hockey 1995), but it is not seen as a conservation priority due to the low number present in the region.