The collared pratincole, also known as the common pratincole or red-winged pratincole, is a wader in the pratincole family, Glareolidae. As with other pratincoles, it is native to the Old World.
Region
Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, and Southwest Asia (winters in sub-Saharan Africa)
Typical Environment
Breeds on open, sparsely vegetated ground near wetlands such as saline flats, river sandbars, lake margins, and irrigated fields. Also uses steppe and semi-desert plains with nearby water. Outside the breeding season it frequents savannas, floodplains, and recently burned or ploughed fields where aerial insects are abundant. Often found near temporary wetlands created by seasonal rains. It avoids dense vegetation and steep terrain, favoring flat, open vistas for foraging.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1800 m
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Despite being a wader, the collared pratincole hunts insects on the wing with swift-like agility, using long pointed wings and a forked tail. Its chestnut underwings flash in flight, and the fine black line around the white throat forms the characteristic 'collar.' It often nests in loose colonies on bare ground near water and performs distraction displays to deter predators. The species breeds in the Mediterranean and Southwest Asia and winters widely in sub-Saharan Africa.
In flight, showing dark rufous underwing coverts and deeply forked tail
Clutch in nest
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
swift, agile flier with buoyant glides and rapid flickering wingbeats
Social Behavior
Breeds in loose colonies or scattered pairs, nesting in a simple scrape on bare ground. Both parents incubate and share chick-rearing duties. Adults perform distraction displays and aerial mobbing to protect nests. Outside breeding, individuals often forage in small to large flocks.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations include soft rolling trills and chattering calls, with a distinctive, liquid 'prrrit' or 'kwee-ik' given in flight. Calls are most frequent at dawn and dusk during foraging and courtship. Overall song is simple but carries well over open ground.
Plumage
Warm brown upperparts with buff underparts; clean white throat edged by a fine black line forming a neat collar; long pointed wings and a deeply forked tail. Underwing coverts are rich chestnut with contrasting dark flight feathers, creating a striking flash in flight.
Diet
Primarily takes flying insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, locusts, dragonflies, and swarming termites. It catches prey on the wing using agile, swift-like sallies and will also glean insects from the ground. Occasionally snatches small aquatic insects over water edges. Diet composition shifts to exploit seasonal insect emergences.
Preferred Environment
Feeds over open fields, marsh margins, shallow lake shores, and riverine sandbars. Often hunts above recently ploughed land or burnt areas where insects are concentrated, and along the edges of wetlands after rain.
