The rock pratincole (Glareola nuchalis) is a native African wading bird. Mature adults have dark gray or brown plumage with a white line beginning beneath the eye extending to the back of the neck like a collar. Their wings are long and dark with a distinct white patch on the underwing. Their tail is forked and they usually have a white belly. The bill is black with a red base and the legs and eyes are coral red. Both sexes emit a faint whistling contact call and musical purring but can become very noisy when aggressive.[5]Glareola nuchalis measurements: length: 16.5–19.5 cm; wing: 14.3–16.0 cm; bill: 10-12mm; tail: 5–6 cm; mass: 43–52 grams.[6]
Habitat
Glareola nuchalis associates with the rocks along the embankments of rivers and lakes as its seasonal movements are determined by local water levels. These intra-African migrants occur peripherally along the coast of South Africa in the equatorial regions. They migrate when areas are flooded and arrive when rocks emanate during drought. They live in flocks of about 26 pairs in and on the rocks feeding upon insects in the morning and evening and wading in the cool waters during the heat of the day. They will feed during day if overcast is present and can be routinely seen perched on a hippopotamus scavenging for insects. Its diet consists mostly of flies, moths, ants, beetles, grasshoppers and cicadas. Their prey is attacked aerially.[7]
Breeding
An elaborate courtship occurs in flight with wings held high over the back with neck feathers flared to emphasize their collar. They are monogamous and keep the same mate for life. Breeding pairs withdraw from the flock and become territorial of their nest and only breed in times of drought. The female lays 1–2 eggs in the depression of a smooth rock in sites surrounded by water. Both sexes incubate the nest and frequently return to the nest with wet feathers to keep their eggs cool. Chicks are born camouflaged with brown feathers and white spots and have no white collar until it matures. They quickly take refuge in the crevices of rocks and begin swimming well quickly.[8]
References
^BirdLife International (2016). "Glareola nuchalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22694144A93440927. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22694144A93440927.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
^Gill, Frank; Donsker, David, eds. (2019). "Sandpipers, snipes, coursers". World Bird List Version 9.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
^Hayman, P.; Marchant, J.; Prater, A. J. 1986. Shorebirds. Croom Helm, London.
^del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World, vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona, Spain.
^Hockey, P. A. R.; Dean, W. R. J.; Ryan, P. G. 2005. Roberts Birds of southern Africa. Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund, Cape Town, South Africa.
^Harrison, J. A.; Allan, D. G.; Underhill, L. G.; Herremans, M.; Tree, A. J.; Parker, V.; Brown, C. J. 1997. The atlas of southern African birds. BirdLife South Africa, Johannesburg.
External links
Image at ADW
Rock pratincole – Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds.
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rock, pratincole, rock, pratincole, glareola, nuchalis, species, bird, family, glareolidae, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, avesorder, charadriiformesfamily, glareolidaegenus, glareola. The rock pratincole Glareola nuchalis is a species of bird in the family Glareolidae Rock pratincoleConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder CharadriiformesFamily GlareolidaeGenus GlareolaSpecies G nuchalisBinomial nameGlareola nuchalis Gray 1849 SynonymsGalactochrysea liberiae Galactochrysea eminiThis Rock Pratincole was photographed at Murchison Falls National Park near the falls in Uganda Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Identification 3 Habitat 4 Breeding 5 References 6 External linksDistribution and habitat EditThere are two subspecies of rock pratincole 2 G n liberiae Schlegel 1881 Rufous collared pratincole 3 from Sierra Leone to western Cameroon G n nuchalis Gray 1849 White collared pratincole 4 Chad to Ethiopia south to southern Angola amp northeast Namibia to western Zambia amp MozambiqueIdentification EditThe rock pratincole Glareola nuchalis is a native African wading bird Mature adults have dark gray or brown plumage with a white line beginning beneath the eye extending to the back of the neck like a collar Their wings are long and dark with a distinct white patch on the underwing Their tail is forked and they usually have a white belly The bill is black with a red base and the legs and eyes are coral red Both sexes emit a faint whistling contact call and musical purring but can become very noisy when aggressive 5 Glareola nuchalis measurements length 16 5 19 5 cm wing 14 3 16 0 cm bill 10 12mm tail 5 6 cm mass 43 52 grams 6 Habitat EditGlareola nuchalis associates with the rocks along the embankments of rivers and lakes as its seasonal movements are determined by local water levels These intra African migrants occur peripherally along the coast of South Africa in the equatorial regions They migrate when areas are flooded and arrive when rocks emanate during drought They live in flocks of about 26 pairs in and on the rocks feeding upon insects in the morning and evening and wading in the cool waters during the heat of the day They will feed during day if overcast is present and can be routinely seen perched on a hippopotamus scavenging for insects Its diet consists mostly of flies moths ants beetles grasshoppers and cicadas Their prey is attacked aerially 7 Breeding EditAn elaborate courtship occurs in flight with wings held high over the back with neck feathers flared to emphasize their collar They are monogamous and keep the same mate for life Breeding pairs withdraw from the flock and become territorial of their nest and only breed in times of drought The female lays 1 2 eggs in the depression of a smooth rock in sites surrounded by water Both sexes incubate the nest and frequently return to the nest with wet feathers to keep their eggs cool Chicks are born camouflaged with brown feathers and white spots and have no white collar until it matures They quickly take refuge in the crevices of rocks and begin swimming well quickly 8 References Edit BirdLife International 2016 Glareola nuchalis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016 e T22694144A93440927 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2016 3 RLTS T22694144A93440927 en Retrieved 11 November 2021 Gill Frank Donsker David eds 2019 Sandpipers snipes coursers World Bird List Version 9 2 International Ornithologists Union Retrieved 25 June 2019 Glareola nuchalis liberiae Rufous collared pratincole Avibase avibase bsc eoc org Retrieved 2021 09 05 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Glareola nuchalis nuchalis White collared pratincole Avibase avibase bsc eoc org Retrieved 2021 09 05 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Hayman P Marchant J Prater A J 1986 Shorebirds Croom Helm London del Hoyo J Elliott A Sargatal J 1996 Handbook of the Birds of the World vol 3 Hoatzin to Auks Lynx Edicions Barcelona Spain Hockey P A R Dean W R J Ryan P G 2005 Roberts Birds of southern Africa Trustees of the John Voelcker Bird Book Fund Cape Town South Africa Harrison J A Allan D G Underhill L G Herremans M Tree A J Parker V Brown C J 1997 The atlas of southern African birds BirdLife South Africa Johannesburg External links EditImage at ADW Rock pratincole Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds This Charadriiformes related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rock pratincole amp oldid 1112814379, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
