Photo: Shantanu Kuveskar / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Small Pratincole
Glareola lactea
Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South & Southeast Asia.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) is a member of the Glareolidae family found in South & Southeast Asia. Adults weigh 39.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Glareolidae Coursers, Pratincoles
- Genus Glareola
- Species lactea
Where it lives
Foothills to sub-Himalayan rivers from northeastern south to Sri Lanka, east through Nepal, Bhutan, southern Yunnan (southern China) to Vietnam
Quick facts
- Weight
- 39.8 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Glareolidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Small Pratincole is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Small Pratincole is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) is a member of the Glareolidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South & Southeast Asia. Its distribution covers OR foothills to sub-Himalayan rivers from ne s to Sri Lanka, e through Nepal, Bhutan, s Yunnan (s China) to Vietnam.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 39.8 g, with a wing length of about 14.7 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Small Pratincole?
The Small Pratincole is a small bird that weighs around 39.8 g.
Where does the Small Pratincole live?
The Small Pratincole is found across South & Southeast Asia with a range covering OR foothills to sub-Himalayan rivers from ne s to Sri Lanka, e through Nepal, Bhutan, s Yunnan (s China) to Vietnam, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Small Pratincole belong to?
The Small Pratincole (Glareola lactea) belongs to the Glareolidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Small Pratincole eat?
The Small Pratincole is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Small Pratincole migrate?
The Small Pratincole is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Small Pratincole endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Small Pratincole make?
1 real field recording of the Small Pratincole — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Small Pratincole's range?
The Small Pratincole has a mapped global range of about 3.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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