Australian Pratincole vs Small Pratincole

Australian Pratincole

Glareola isabella

Small65 g

The Australian pratincole is a medium-sized slender shorebird with long legs, long pointed wings and a short decurved bill. It is 19–24 cm (7.5–9.4 in) long, has a wingspan of 50–60 cm (20–24 in) and weighs 55–75 g (1.9–2.6 oz). The sexes look alike but their breeding and non-breeding plumage differs. In their breeding plumage, the head, neck, breast and upperparts are a sandy brown grading. The wings are pointed and black and there is a black loral strip. The chin and throat are white and the breast is a sandy brown. The bill is bright red with a black base and the iris is dark brown. Voice: The Australian pratincole is known to call during summer thunderstorms. The calls are sweet or plaintive whistles, or very soft and muted trills and loud sharp notes. No difference in calls between males and females has been identified. Four different types of calls have been clearly identified: Flight call — sweet whistling upslurred weeteet or quirriepeet.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Ron Knight from Seaford, East Sussex, United Kingdom · CC BY 2.0

Small Pratincole

Glareola lactea

Small40 gRiverine

This bird has short legs, long pointed wings and a short tail. Its short bill is an adaptation to aerial feeding. On the ground, it looks mainly pale grey (hence lactea, milky). The crown of the head is brown. The wings are grey above with black primaries and black and white bars at the rear edge of the inner flight feathers. The underwings are mainly black. The tail is white with a black terminal triangle. The belly is white.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Lorensonowal · CC BY 4.0

Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Australian Pratincole and Small Pratincole.