Glareola nordmanni (Black-winged Pratincole)

Scientific name: Glareola nordmanni Fischer, 1842

Bird group: Waders

Field characters. 25 cm. Very difficult to distinguish from Collared Pratincole. The latter has chestnut underwing-coverts and axillaries; Black-winged has the same region black, but this is hard to see unless the bird takes off or alights. In flight, underwing looks black in both birds. Secondaries lack the white tips of the Collared Pratincole; upperparts of Black-winged somewhat darker than in Collared; less red on bill; wings in adults clearly project behind tail (adult Collared has tail tip about equal to wing tips; feature not reliable in juveniles).

Voice. Similar to Collared Pratincole's, but apparently lower-pitched.

Distribution. Sporadic breeding-bird in Europe. Vagrant to western part of the area.

Habitat. Similar to Collared Pratincole's.

Food. Feeds usually on the wing, taking swarming insects, especially during morning and evening.

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