Jerdon’s Courser Rediscovered in Southern India After 20 Years
A Jerdon's courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus), classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, has been identified on the east coast of southern India. A small team of Indian birders documented the species in August 2025, marking the first confirmed sighting in two decades.
The rediscovery occurred after weeks of research into potential habitats. The team primarily listened for the bird's distinctive two-note call, successfully capturing it on the first night of observation. Information on the Jerdon's courser remains limited; there is no documented area of occupancy, population estimates, or information on subpopulations. The species was initially believed extinct for much of the 20th century before being rediscovered in 1986 near...
