Glareola pratincola
The Collared Pratincole is a migrant to South Africa, usually arriving to breed from about July and departing again by February. They’re found in open habitats – overgrazed grasslands, floodplains, sand banks and so on – near reliable large water sources like dams, lakes and estuaries. They’re most active by dusk and dawn, catching insects in flight and on the ground, and often follow herds of game or stock to catch the invertebrates they flush.
Adult Collared Pratincoles measure about 25cm in length with a weight of around 75g. While they’re usually seen in substantial flocks, often numbering into the thousands, they are monogamous breeders, laying clutches of 2 eggs in shallow depressions (like animal footprints) on the bare ground. Incubation takes a little less than 3 weeks and is shared between the parents. The chicks start flying when they’re about 4 weeks old.
The Collared Pratincole is very widely distributed over Africa, Europe and west and central Asia. and the IUCN lists it to be of least concern overall. In South Africa they are found, mostly during our spring and summer months, in the Lowveld and northern Kwazulu-Natal, and are considered rare and near-threatened.
DeWetsWild 
Ag my, is hy nou nie te oulik met die kringetjie teen sy nekkie af. Maar ek stem saam met die meeste mense hier dat hy sommer lekker kwaai vir die wereld lyk 🙃.
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Veral as hulle so bietjie natgereen het, ne!?
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I couldn’t help but notice that the facial features make this bird look “grumpy” or maybe someone who is not to be accosted. 🙂
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Agreed entirely, John. Amazing how our recognition of facial expressions extend beyond humans, isn’t it!?
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I love his facial markings!
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Almost looks like they’re wearing a baby’s bib, and not very happy about having to! 😀
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What a lovely little creature…
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A little avian grinch! 😀
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😂
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Sommer net ‘n gesiggie wat sê: hou jou afstand! Eks nie lus vir nonsens nie. Dalk hoe ek nou voel 😂
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Ek dink darem nie dis net jy wat jou gevoelens op hulle projekteer nie, Elsabe. Hulle lyk maar norserig vir my ook.
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Another bird I have not yet seen … very handsome, yet a little down in the mouth in appearance. Good spotting.
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Thank you, Anne! They do look a little glum, I agree.
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This bird has the shape of a small gull. However, has no relation to them, it’s cataloged as related to swallows and swifts. Weird, isn’t it? Thank you, D. 🙂
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Seeing them in flight they do resemble very large swifts with those back-swept wings, H.J. At least unlike many swifts their legs are long enough to allow them to take off from the ground.
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Very pretty markings. Looks like quite a wingspan, too.
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All the better to fly those long distances with!
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Attractive markings on the head.
Just about ready to watch the first SA game. Yes, we’re behind. 😉
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I shall bite my tongue until you’ve caught up!
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Saw the first win. Phew! First half was scary.
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Vreemde voëltjie vir my.
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Met die dat hulle so skaars is is hulle nie baie bekend onder Suid-Afrikaners nie, Ineke.
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So gedink en veral omdat hy rond beweeg met seisoene. Is daar ‘n Afrikaanse naam vir hom?
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In Afrikaans is dit die Rooivlerksprinkaanvoel, Ineke.
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Dankie nie geweet dis ‘n sprinkaalvoël nie. Dankie weer iets geleer.
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Smartly attired
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And they look as though they know it, don’t they?
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This is a handsome medium size bird which unfortunately does not live in the Americas. Great photos!
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Thank you very much, Hien
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