Pratincole is a group of birds with long pointed wings and a forked tail. Pratincoles are found in southern Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. They live on flat, open, dry areas and also near fresh water. Pratincoles are quick and agile fliers. They eat large insects caught while flying or on the ground.
Pratincoles live in flocks of up to several hundred birds. They nest in loose colonies in which each pair maintains its territory. The female lays 2 to 4 eggs in a nest on the ground. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 18 days.
Pratincoles are about 10 inches (25 centimeters) long. They have brownish plumage and a creamy patch on the throat, edged with black. The collared pratincole has red-brown patches under its wings. It has a widespread distribution, from the Mediterranean, through the Middle East, to India. The Australian pratincole is a long-legged species.
Pratincoles are closely related to another group of birds called coursers. Coursers are desert birds found in Africa and South Asia. Most coursers have brown and white feathers, long legs, and short wings. They are commonly seen running swiftly over the sand. They seldom fly unless disturbed and then usually fly only a short distance. Coursers feed chiefly on insects. In southern Africa, coursers are noted for eating large numbers of locusts and are sometimes called locust birds.
