Small Pratincole

Latin Name: 
Glareola lactea
Size: 
18cm
Description: 

Sexes alike. Brown forehead; sandy-grey above; during breeding has black stripe from eye to beak; white, squarish tail, tipped black; smoky-brown underbody has a rufous wash; whiter on lower breast and abdomen; long, narrow wings and short legs. The Collared Pratincole G. pratincola is larger, with a forked tail and black loop on the throat. Gregarious; large flocks over an open expanse, close to water; very swallow-like in demeanour; strong and graceful flight over water surface, catching insects on wing; flies high in late evening.

Habitat: 
large and quiet riversides, sandbars, marshy expanses, coastal swamps, tidal creeks.
Food: 
insects taken on wing.
Distribution: 
resident and local migrant; subcontinent south of outer Himalaya, from about 1,800m.
Call: 
Call Description: 
soft, but harsh call notes in flight.
National Status: