Small Pratincole

A small bird that resembles a combination of a dove, a swallow, and a plover. It is a soft gray-brown with a tan wash on the throat and black lores. It has a black-and-white wing pattern prominent in flight which is agile and erratic, resembling a bat or swallow and frequently in flocks at dusk. This bird has short legs, long pointed wings and a short tail. Its short bill is an adaptation to aerial feeding. On the ground, it looks mainly pale grey (hence lactea, milky). The crown of the head is brown.

They favour rocky or sandy islands in rivers and in this case a reservoir, but can also be found in marshes, estuaries, and lakesides. The Small Pratincole is distinguished from other pratincoles in range by their smaller size and gray plumage. Their calls are a high rolling “chirrit!”, reminiscent of terns.

The most unusual feature of the pratincoles is that although classed as waders they typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows, although they can also feed on the ground. They are a species of open country, and are often seen near water in the evening, hawking for insects.

They are resident breeders in India, Western Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Thailand breeding from December to March.

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