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Small Pratincole

Shorebirds

Photo: sunnyjosef · CC BY 4.0

Glareola lactea

Basic stats

Habitat

Open country, gravel or sand banks near rivers and lakes

Clutch size

2-4 eggs

Size

16.5-18.5cm

Wingspan

42-48cm

It is only 16.5 to 18.5 cm long with a wingspan of 42 to 48 cm, and in flight can be briefly confused with a swift or swallow. It has short legs, long pointed wings, a short tail and a short bill suited to aerial feeding. On the ground it looks mainly pale grey, with a brown crown (Wikipedia, general species account).

It breeds from December to March on gravel or sand banks near rivers and lakes, laying two to four eggs in a ground scrape. Although classed as a wader, it typically hunts insects on the wing like a swallow, often near water in the evening.

Quick answers

What habitat does the Small Pratincole live in?
Open country, gravel or sand banks near rivers and lakes
How many eggs does the Small Pratincole lay?
2-4 eggs
How big is the Small Pratincole?
16.5-18.5cm
What is the wingspan of the Small Pratincole?
42-48cm
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