Pratincoles · Shorebirds
Black-winged Pratincole
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Glareola nordmanni
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How to recognize it
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24–26 cm, like a large swallow
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Long pointed wings, forked tail
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Brown upperparts, white belly
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Black underwing, white rump, black breast band; sharp "tsee-tsee"
About the species
The black-winged pratincole moves like a swallow over open ground, with long pointed wings and a forked tail. Its dark upperparts and black underwings give it a plain look at a distance, while the white belly and short bill are easier to notice closer in.
It hunts insects on the wing, often in the evening and sometimes from the ground. Its flight is swift and direct, and it usually keeps to itself rather than lingering in one place.
Look for it in open country, especially steppe, semi-desert, and dry places near water. It breeds in parts of south-east Europe and south-west Asia, then leaves for tropical Africa in winter.
Where to find
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On dry open ground near water—at dusk, hawking insects in low, swift flight just above the grass.
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By salty lakes and flat canal banks, especially when it lifts off and loops right along the water’s edge.
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On grazing fields and open edges near small ponds, feeding on the ground in short runs between sparse plants.
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On city fringes with bare soil and steppe-like patches, often moving in small groups and circling low over the scrub.
