Jerdon’s Courser (Rhinoptilus bitorquatus)

Jerdon's Courser

Technical Data

Date of Issue October 7, 1988
Denomination Rs. 1
Quantity 1,500,000
Perforation comb 13 x 13½
Printer Security Printing Press, Nashik
Watermark No Watermark
Colors Multicolor
Catalog Codes

Michel IN 1183

Stamp Number IN 1244

Yvert et Tellier IN 996

Stanley Gibbons IN 1332

Themes Animals (Fauna) | Birds

Wildlife 1988: Honoring the Jerdon’s Courser and Dr. Salim Ali

The Jerdon’s Courser:

  • Scientific Name: Cursorius bitorquatus
  • Rarity: One of the rarest birds globally, presumed extinct before its rediscovery in January 1986 by the Bombay Natural History Society.
  • Historical Records: Last recorded in 1900, despite numerous expeditions since the 1930s.
  • Habitat: Known only in the Pennar River valley (Anantpur, Cuddapah, and Nellore) and the Godavari River valley (Bhadrachalam and Sironcha) in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Physical Description:
  • Upper Plumage: Pinkish sandy brown with a dark brown crown and hind neck.
  • Facial Markings: Broad whitish supercilium looping around the nape.
  • Underparts: Whitish chin and throat, rufous foreneck separated from the brown breast by a white band, second white band across the lower breast.
  • Tail and Wings: Whitish underparts with a white and black tail and a prominent white wingbar visible in flight.
  • Behavior: Inhabits thorn scrub country, crepuscular, and nocturnal.
  • Discovery: Named after Dr. T.C. Jerdon, who discovered it in 1848.
  • Conservation Symbol: Represents the success of persistent conservation efforts.

Dr. Salim Ali:

  • Legacy: India’s most distinguished ornithologist, naturalist, and conservationist.
  • Contributions: Authored numerous books on ornithology and played a significant role in wildlife conservation.
  • Awards and Honors:
  • National: Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.
  • International:
    • IUCN’s ‘John C. Phillips Gold Medal’
    • ‘Golden Oak’ from Prince Bernhard of the World Wildlife Fund
    • India’s National Award for Conservation (1983)
    • Nomination to the Rajya Sabha (1986)
    • J. Paul Getty International Prize for Wildlife Conservation (1976), converted into the Salim Ali Fund for Conservation.
  • Impact: Dr. Ali’s work received recognition both in India and abroad, highlighting his dedication to ornithology and conservation.

Material Courtesy:

Bombay Natural History Society & WWF