Black-winged Pratincole | Glareola nordmanni

The Black-winged Pratincole is a Southern African bird that belongs to the Glareolidae bird family group which includes birds such as Coursers, Pratincoles.

The description for the Black-winged Pratincole (Latin name Glareola nordmanni) can be found in the 7th Edition of the Roberts Birds of Southern Africa. The Glareola nordmanni can be quickly identified by its unique Roberts identification number of 305 and the detailed description of this bird is on page 429. You will find a picture of the Black-winged Pratincole on page 321.

NOTE: The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition*. This edition contained a number of taxonomic changes as well as changes to English names used traditionally and in earlier editions of most bird books in South Africa. The following paragraph notes such changes if any.

There have been no changes in the common name between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition. There have been no changes in the Latin name for the Black-winged Pratincole between the Roberts 6th and Roberts 7th Edition

The Black-winged Pratincole has a height of 25 cms and weighs around 100 gms. The head is coloured olive while the bill is coloured brown. The Glareola nordmanni has a white coloured throat, black legs and a olive coloured back. The eyes are brown.

Take note of the bird's main distinguishing features such as colour, size and leg length relative to the body size of the bird. Colours of a bird's body parts can be helpful. Be aware what may appear brown to one person is described in Roberts Birds using some other word ... for example brown, black. See colours used in Roberts.

Head is olive

Eyes are brown

Bill is brown

Legs are black

Throat is white

Back is olive

Feeding Habits ...

This bird forages for food on the ground

The Glareola nordmanni attacks its prey aerially and feeds on wing or takes the prey to a secluded venue where it is killed, torn into small pieces and eaten

This bird is a noctunal feeder and is able to forage in the dark because of the enhanced night vision. It also forages at this time because that?s when the prey comes out in the open.

This bird eats insects such as butterflies, bees, wasps, locusts and ants. These invertebrates are usually hawked aerially, killed and then eaten .

Breeding, Habitat and Nesting Habits ...

The Black-winged Pratincole is a monogamous bird which means that the bird finds and breeds with one partner for the rest of its life. The bird lays between 4 eggs and they are coloured .

The bird is mainly found in the Savanna grasslands where it breeds and feeds.

The Black-winged Pratincole is found in the Southern African wetlands, riverine forests and moist grasslands.

The bird is at home in riverine forests and close to water bodies such as lakes, dams and streams

Seen in Flocks, Singles or Pairs Normally ...

The reference for the information following is "Roberts Birds of Southern Africa", 7th Edition * edited by PAR Hockey, WRJ Dean and PG Ryan, published by "The Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund."

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