Cursorius cursor - Cream-coloured Courser
Feather characters. Barbules are of medium length (1.1-1.3 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Vase-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (18-20 per mm). They are all about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are absent and internodes are occasionally kinked. Prongs are absent. Shape of nodes for this species is classified as vase-shaped, but to distinguish them from other Charadriiformes is possible since these nodes are much rounder compared to other species.
Field characters. Size 19-21 cm. Weight 138 g (115-198) (Dunning, 1993). Unmistakable slender, long-legged wader, adapted to desert habitats. Completely sand-coloured, with distinctive head pattern: rufous forecrown, blue-grey hindcrown, white supercilium, and black eye-stripe, curving down to nape; bill decurved, black. Upperwing with black primaries, contrasting with sandy coverts; underwing entirely sooty black except for narrow sandy leading edge and white tips to secondaries. Flight with fast wingbeats; very agile on the ground.
Voice. Generally silent; may utter repeated, whiplash-like 'pwit', sometimes followed by a hoarse 'hark'.
Distribution. Locally quite common in N Africa and Middle East; partially migrates. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Sandy or stony, arid terrain, open or with sparse low vegetation, like desert fringes, semi-desert, and gravelly plains.
Food. Mainly insects and their larvae, obtained in plover-like way.