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9

Australian Pratincole

(Stiltia isabella)
Alternate name(s): "Australian Courser", "Swallow-plover", "Arnhemland Grouse",
"Nankeen Plover", "Roadrunner", "Rainbird*"

Size: 22-24 cm; wing span 50-60 cm
Weight: 55-75 g

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Australian Pratincole at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

BREEDING

Sex unknown

Frontal view of an Australian Pratincole looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Near-frontal view of an Australian Pratincole looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Near-lateral view of an Australian Pratincole looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Near-lateral view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Near-lateral view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, December 2013]

Lateral view of an Australian Pratincole looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Lateral view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Close-up lateral view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Close-up lateral view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Lateral view of an Australian Pratincole on eutrophic soil in a wetland (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Jollys Dam Road, Pine Creek, NT, January 2020]

Close-up lateral view of an Australian Pratincole looking away from the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Near-dorsal view of an Australian Pratincole looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Windorah and Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of an Australian Pratincole looking towards the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Windorah and Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Birdsville Development Road, QLD, September 2022]

Dorsal view of an Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Between Windorah and Bedourie, QLD, August 2022]

Frontal view of an Australian Pratincole in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Near-frontal view of an Australian Pratincole in flight (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Lateral view of an Australian Pratincole in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Lateral view of an Australian Pratincole in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Near-dorsal view of an Australian Pratincole in flight
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Dorsal view of an Australian Pratincole in flight (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

View onto the back of an Australian Pratincole in flight, showing the white rump and black tail feathers
(photo courtesy of R. Druce)
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

NON-BREEDING

Judging by its inconspicuous colours and the blotches on its upperparts, this Australian Pratincole may be in non-breeding plumage
[Sturt NP, NSW, September 2012]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Close-up lateral view of an immature Australian Pratincole - note the all-black bill and the mottled and streaked appearance (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sewage Treatment Plant, Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sewage Treatment Plant, Katherine, NT, July 2020]

Lateral view of a juvenile Australian Pratincole (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Fogg Dam NR, NT, August 2013]

Behaviour

Australian Pratincoles are often found in habitats without vegetation, such as e.g. gibber, fallow fields, or, as shown here, roadsides (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
[Near Moree, NSW, December 2013]

This Australian Pratincole is ducking like a duck
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Food, Diet

Australian Pratincole drinking
[Goran Lake, NSW, December 2012]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

ausprat_20151219.m4a (NW NSW) Warning/departure © MD

More Australian Pratincole sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site?
If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.