Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

(G. p. pratincola)

Armenian Name:	Մարգագետնային ծիծառակտցար
Species Status:	Threatened Species - Species of Special Concern

See Plate 24 for Collared Pratincole and other similar species

Resident Status:	Breeding bird
Abundance:	Common
Length:	25 cm, Wing Span:60-65 cm
Distribution Map:	Map 149.
Description:	Small bill, long wings, and forked tail that equals or exceeds tip of folded wing. Brown-red underwing coverts are best field mark for identification, but difficult to see. White trailing edge to wing.
Adult (Breeding):	Gray-brown above; chin and throat pale, outlined in black. Bill is black with extensive red at base.
Adult (Non-breeding):	Throat line broken into streaks.
Juvenile:	Streaked throat and breast.
Similar Species:	Differs from Black-winged Pratincole by upperwing contrast, white trailing edge to wing, more red on bill, longer tail equals or exceeds tip of folded wing.
Behavior:	Catches insects with agile swallow-like flight; seldom enters even shallow water.
Habitat:	Near water in sandy-clay semidesert or mountain steppe.
Food:	Invertebrates.
Nest:	Cup on ground with little or no lining.
Eggs:	32 mm, 2-4, yellow-white, black-brown and purple blotches.