Black-winged Pratincole
Glareola nordmanni
黑翅燕鸻
Introduction
A wader in the pratincole bird family, Glareolidae. Found in warmer parts of south-east Europe and south-west Asia, inhabiting open country and areas near water. Unusual among waders, it typically hunts insect prey on the wing like swallows, though it can also feed on the ground. The species is migratory, wintering in tropical Africa. It is a species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
Description
A small wader 24–28 cm (9.4–11.0 in) long with short legs, long pointed wings, and a forked tail. It has a short bill adapted for aerial feeding. The back and head are brown, while the wings are brown with black flight feathers. The belly is white and the underwings are black. It is marginally larger than the collared pratincole, with a shorter tail and longer legs.
Identification
Very good views are needed to distinguish this species from the collared and oriental pratincoles. The dark underwing and lack of a white trailing edge to the wing are diagnostic features, though these can be difficult to observe in the field. The chestnut underwing of the collared pratincole can appear black unless excellent views are obtained. Compared to the collared pratincole, this species is marginally larger with a shorter tail and longer legs.
Distribution & Habitat
Breeds in warmer parts of south-east Europe and south-west Asia, inhabiting open country. Often seen near water in the evening. Migratory, wintering in tropical Africa. Individuals are rare north or west of the breeding range.
Behavior & Ecology
Breeds colonially, laying 2–4 eggs directly on the ground. Feeds primarily on insects, unusual for a wader in that it typically hunts prey on the wing like swallows, though it can also feed on the ground.
Conservation
The species is covered under the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA).
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Glareolidae
- Genus
- Glareola
- eBird Code
- blwpra1
Distribution
breeds saline steppe near water from central Ukraine and southwestern Russia eastward to eastern Kazakhstan; winters in grassland near water of eastern Namibia, Botswana, and northern South Africa
Data Sources
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.