GLAREOLA.
Bill short, bent above; hind toe present, middle claw pectinated ; tail forked; flight Swallow-like ; inhabit sandy wastes, but also marshes and inland waters; gregarious ; run well; food, insects, often caught on wing ; eggs laid on ground, ochreous to pale slate, spotted and blotched with greyish and dark brown.
Glareola pratincola pratincola (L.). l'RATINCOI.E. Fr. Perdrix de mer ; Ger. Brachschwalbe ; Mt/. l'ernice di mare.
? Above grey brown, tail coverts white ; throat salmon buff encircled by black collar ; breast buff, abdomen white, under wing coverts and axillaries chestnut at all ages. Bill black, red at base. Legs and feet dark brown. Wing S 190-202, ? 187-195. Tarsus 30-33. Bill 1-13.
Preeds.—N. Africa, S. Spain and Portugal, S. France (irregular), Italy (rare), Sicily (few), Hungary, Lower Danube, Balkan Peninsula, Greece, S. Russia north to Riazan and Ural ; and in S.W. Asia. Migratory ; winters in Africa. Rare visitor in Europe outside breeding range. Casual in Britain.
Glareola nordmanni Nordmann.
Like "pratincola" but darker above and under wing coverts and axillaries black. Wing 194-205 (H.).
Breeds.--Dobrudscha, S. Russia north to Riazan and Orenburg ; also W. Asia. Migratory ; occurs on passage S.W. Asia and Egypt. Winters W. and S. Africa. Rare visitor Norway, England, Hungary, Italy, Sicily, Tunisia.