Pratincole

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Habitat and behaviour

Habitat: Steppes, dry mudflats.
Diet: Aerial insects.
Best time to spot: Tern-like aerial feeding.

When to look

A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in Rare birds in the UK.

How rare is it?

The Pratincole sits in our Epic tier for the UK: a scarce visitor, recorded in small numbers in most years. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Black-winged PratincoleEpic · Open ground (very rare)
• Oriental PratincoleLegendary · Open ground (very rare)
• Semipalmated SandpiperEpic · Mudflats (vagrant)
• Bar-tailed GodwitUncommon · Estuaries
• Black BrantRare · Mudflats (rare race)
• Brent GooseUncommon · Coastal mudflats

Kit that helps

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