Rock Pratincole

About the Rock Pratincole

The rock pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae. There are two subspecies of rock pratincole: G. n. liberiae (Schlegel, 1881), – rufous-collared pratincole – from Sierra Leone to western Cameroon

G. n. nuchalis (Gray, 1849), – white-collared pratincole – Chad to Ethiopia, south to southern Angola & northeast Namibia to western Zambia & Mozambique The rock pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) is a native African wading bird. Mature adults have dark gray or brown plumage with a white line beginning beneath the eye extending to the back of the neck like a collar. Their wings are long and dark with a distinct white patch on the underwing. Their tail is forked and they usually have a white belly. The bill is black with a red base and the legs and eyes are coral red. Both sexes emit a faint whistling contact call and musical purring but can become very noisy when aggressive. Glareola nuchalis measurements: length: 16.5–19.5 cm; wing: 14.3–16.0 cm; bill: 10-12 mm; tail: 5–6 cm; mass: 43–52 grams.

Glareola nuchalis associates with the rocks along the embankments of rivers and lakes as its seasonal... Wikipedia →