Oriental Pratincole
Introduction
An almost swallow-like shorebird of open habitats, Oriental Pratincole is an extremely rare visitor from eastern Asia.
Known as the Rainbird in north-west Australia, flocks of millions can appear, often presaging rain. Until very recently these gatherings were known only to the indigenous population.
Key Stats
Status and Trends
Conservation Status
Population Size
Population Change
Population trends of this scarce species are not routinely monitored.
Distribution
This species is a rare vagrant and was recorded during Bird Atlas 2007–11 as shown on the map.
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.
Distribution Change
This vagrant is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
Seasonality
This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.
Movement
Britain & Ireland movement
Biology
Survival and Longevity
Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.
Classification, names and codes
Classification and Codes
- Order: Charadriiformes
- Family: Glareolidae
- Scientific name: Glareola maldivarum
- Authority: JR Forster, 1795
- BTO 2-letter code: GM
- Euring code number: 4660
Alternate species names
- Catalan: perdiu de mar oriental
- Czech: ouhorlík indomalajský
- Danish: Orient-braksvale
- Dutch: Oosterse Vorkstaartplevier
- Estonian: ida-pääsujooksur
- Finnish: aasianpääskykahlaaja
- French: Glaréole orientale
- German: Orientbrachschwalbe
- Hungarian: keleti székicsér
- Icelandic: Svölutrítill
- Italian: Pernice di mare dal collare
- Latvian: austrumu bezdeligtartinš
- Lithuanian: rytine kregždune
- Norwegian: Orientbrakksvale
- Polish: zwirowiec orientalny
- Portuguese: perdiz-do-mar-oriental
- Slovak: prieložník olivový
- Slovenian: orientalska komatna tekica
- Spanish: Canastera oriental
- Swedish: orientvadarsvala
- English folkname(s): Rainbird