Photo: Zieger M / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Rock Pratincole
Glareola nuchalis
Rock Pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Africa.
Found across 3 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Rock Pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) is a member of the Glareolidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 62.7 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 nuchalis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Glareolidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Near Threatened
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Rock Pratincole is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of rocky terrain, it is highly aerial, spending much of its time on the wing.
Migration
The Rock Pratincole is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Rock Pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) belongs to the Glareolidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF rocky rivers of tropical Africa.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.7 g, with a wing length of about 14.3 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 6.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Rock Pratincole?
The Rock Pratincole is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.7 g.
Where does the Rock Pratincole live?
The Rock Pratincole is found across Africa with a range covering AF rocky rivers of tropical Africa, where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Rock Pratincole belong to?
The Rock Pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) belongs to the Glareolidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Rock Pratincole eat?
The Rock Pratincole is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Rock Pratincole migrate?
The Rock Pratincole is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Rock 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 Rock Pratincole make?
1 real field recording of the Rock Pratincole — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Rock Pratincole's range?
The Rock Pratincole has a mapped global range of about 6.2 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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