PRATINCOLES AND COURSERS: Glareolidae

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Pratincoles (PRAT-un-kohlz) and coursers vary in size from 6.7 to 11.4 inches (17 to 29 centimeters) in length and 1.3 to 6.1 ounces (37 to 172 grams) in weight. Pratincoles generally have slender bodies, long wings, and short legs. They also have beaks that open wide, which helps them catch insects while flying. One pratincole, the Australian pratincole, has very long legs, however. The coursers, on the other hand, tend to have stockier bodies, shorter wings, and very long legs. Coursers are also characterized by a square tail.

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Pratincoles and coursers are found in portions of Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

HABITAT

Most pratincoles live near water, with many species preferring areas along large rivers. Pratincoles of Europe and Asia generally occur in grassland or desert habitats near water. The Egyptian plover occupies sandbars along tropical African rivers. Coursers occupy dry habitats of various types, including extreme desert.

DIET

All pratincoles and coursers eat primarily insects. Coursers will sometimes also eat other invertebrates, animals without a backbone, such as mollusks, as well as seeds. Pratincoles catch their insect prey "on the wing," that is, in the air while flying. Sometimes they search for insects on the ground as well. Coursers, on the other hand, find food exclusively on the ground, pecking at food items with their bills. Some coursers have bills that curve downward, and use these bills to dig through soft sand or mud for insects and seeds.

BEHAVIOR AND REPRODUCTION

During the nonbreeding season, pratincoles can be found in flocks of as many as 100 individuals. They prefer to rest either on the ground or on rocks in the middle of rivers. All the members of the flock face the same direction, into the wind. Praticoles have loud, sharp calls which they use most often during migrations or when they are disturbed at their breeding sites.

Coursers are fast runners that generally prefer to run rather than fly from danger. However, they are good fliers as well. Unlike pratincoles, coursers are generally found alone, although small flocks of no more than five to ten individuals are sometimes seen. Many coursers, particularly those in dry, desert environments, move around a great deal as suitable habitat shifts. Coursers are often diurnal, that is, active during the day, but may switch to being nocturnal, active at night, in hot weather.

Pratincoles and coursers either build nests by scraping a shallow indentation on the ground, or use no nest at all. A few species bury their eggs partially in sand. Pratincoles sometimes nest in large colonies, while coursers are solitary nesters, with each pair isolated from other pairs. Pratincoles in the Northern Hemisphere lay two to four eggs at a time. Other species lay no more than two. One species, the double-banded courser, lays only one egg at a time. Eggs are generally either white or cream-colored and marked with spots of streaks to help them blend into their environments.

CATCHING INSECTS IN THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND

Pratincoles, which generally catch insects in the air, have long wings that help them maneuver (mah-NOO-ver) during flight. Coursers, which generally catch their insects on the ground, have long legs to help them run at prey. The one species in the pratincole and courser group that hunts insects both in the air and on the ground is the Australian pratincole. The Australian pratincole has long wings as well as long legs.

PRATINCOLES, COURSERS, AND PEOPLE

Pratincoles and coursers are hunted for food in parts of Africa and Southeast Asia. Collared pratincole eggs were collected for food in Hungary until that population was wiped out.

CONSERVATION STATUS

Of the sixteen species of pratincoles and coursers, one, the Jerdon's courser, is considered Endangered, facing a very high risk of extinction. Populations have declined in their habitats in east-central India due to habitat destruction and disturbance by humans.

COLLARED PRATINCOLE (Glareola pratincola): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Physical characteristics: The collared pratincole is 8.7 to 9.8 inches (22 to 25 centimeters) in length and weighs between 2.1 and 3.7 ounces (60 to 104 grams). It is a smoky gray-brown color on the back and pale on the belly. During the breeding season, there is a yellow patch on the throat surrounded by a thin black collar. The bill is red at the base and black elsewhere. Collared pratincoles have slender bodies, short legs, and long wings.

Geographic range: The collared pratincole is found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, with isolated breeding populations scattered in portions of Europe and Asia.

Habitat: The collared pratincole occupies habitats between short-grass grasslands and deserts. It is also found in seashore areas with semi-desert conditions.

Diet: Collared pratincoles eat primarily insects, which they catch in flight or grab from the ground. Grasshoppers and beetles make up the bulk of their diet.

Behavior and reproduction: Collared pratincoles are found in large flocks during both the breeding and nonbreeding seasons. They tend to spend time feeding in the air, and then rest on the ground for periods of time. They scrape a shallow indentation in the ground for a nest, sometimes lining it with pieces of vegetation. Females lay three eggs in the species' European and Asian breeding grounds, but only two in African habitats. Eggs are incubated, or sat upon, by both parents. Eggs hatch after seventeen to nineteen days. Both parents feed the chicks. Chicks are able to fly after about one month.

Collared pratincoles and people: The eggs of collared pratincoles were once collected in large numbers by humans for food. In the past, collared pratincoles also helped control locust plagues by eating large numbers of insects.

Conservation status: The collared pratincole is not considered threatened at this time. However, numbers have declined due to the use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers, as well as habitat destruction and disturbance by humans. ∎

AUSTRALIAN PRATINCOLE (Stiltia isabella): SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Physical characteristics: The Australian pratincole varies between 7.5 and 8.7 inches (19 to 22 centimeters) in length and weighs about 2.3 ounces (65 grams). It is light brown in color across most of its body, but has a dark brown upper belly and white lower belly. The bill has a bright red base and black tip. The Australian pratincole has a slender body, long legs, and extremely long wings.

Geographic range: The Australian pratincole is found in most of inland and northern Australia, as well as portions of New Guinea and eastern Indonesia.

Habitat: The Australian pratincole is found on short-grass plains, usually near water.

Diet: The Australian pratincole primarily eats insects. It catches these either while flying or on the ground. When pursuing prey on the ground, it may use a wing to keep insects from escaping. Australian pratincoles may also eat seeds.

Behavior and reproduction: The Australian pratincole is sometimes found alone, but is more frequently seen in flocks. Individuals are able to run quickly. They are usually silent in breeding colonies, but make considerable noise while migrating.

Australian pratincoles and people: The Australian pratincole is sometimes hunted for food in Indonesia.

Conservation status: The Australian pratincole is fairly common across its range and is not considered threatened. ∎

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Books:

del Hoyo, J., A. Elliott, and J. Sargatal, eds. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Vol. 3, Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, 1996.

Hockey, Phil. Waders of Southern Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Winchester, 1995.

Perrins, Christopher, ed. Firefly Encyclopedia of Birds. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books, 2003.

Web sites:

"Family Glareolidae (Coursers and Pratincoles)." Animal Diversity Web. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/classification/Glareolidae.html#Glareolidae (accessed on May 4, 2004).

"Glareolidae (Coursers and Pratincoles)." The Internet Bird Collection. http://www.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/familia.phtml?idFamilia=59 (accessed on May 4, 2004).

"Pratincoles, Coursers." Bird Families of the World, Cornell University. http://www.es.cornell.edu/winkler/botw/glareolidae.html (accessed on May 4, 2004).