Black-winged pratincole facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-winged pratincole |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Glareola
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| Species: |
nordmanni
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The black-winged pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) is a cool bird that belongs to a group called waders. Waders are birds often found near water. This bird is part of the pratincole family, Glareolidae. The name Glareola comes from a Latin word meaning "gravel." This is because pratincoles often build their nests on gravelly ground. The species name nordmanni honors Alexander von Nordmann, a zoologist and explorer from Finland.
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What Does It Look Like?
The black-winged pratincole is about 24 to 28 centimeters (9.4 to 11 inches) long. It has short legs and a tail that looks like a fork. Its wings are long and pointed, which helps it fly fast. This bird also has a short beak, which is perfect for catching insects in the air.
Its back and head are brown. The wings are also brown, but the feathers used for flying are black. Its belly is white, and the feathers under its wings are black. It can be tricky to tell this bird apart from other pratincoles, like the collared pratincole. The black-winged pratincole is a little bigger than the collared pratincole. It also has a shorter tail and longer legs. The black feathers under its wings are a good clue, but they can be hard to see clearly when the bird is flying.
Where Does It Live?
The black-winged pratincole loves open spaces. You can often spot it near water in the evening. It flies around, catching insects in the air. This bird lives in the warmer parts of south-east Europe and south-west Asia.
A Traveling Bird
This pratincole is a migratory bird. This means it travels long distances. When winter comes, it flies all the way to tropical Africa. It is rare to see this bird far north or west of its usual breeding areas.
How Does It Behave?
Building a Nest
Black-winged pratincoles lay their eggs right on the ground. They usually lay 2 to 4 eggs at a time.
Finding Food
Pratincoles are interesting birds because even though they are waders, they mostly hunt for their food in the air. They fly around like swallows, catching insects. However, they can also find food on the ground if they need to.
Protecting This Bird
The black-winged pratincole is an important bird. It is one of the species protected by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA). This agreement helps protect many birds that travel between Africa and Eurasia.
