Madagascar Pratincole (Glareola ocularis)

The Madagascar pratincole is a gregarious bird, often found in groups of 10 to 50 when resting and in flocks of up to 150 birds when hunting in flight (3). Whilst flying over grassland, beaches, water or woodland, the Madagascar pratincole feeds mostly on insects. It can be seen on hunting flights most often in the late evening, but it may also be seen during other parts of the day when the sky is overcast (2). After spending winter on the African mainland, this bird then migrates back to Madagascar where it can be found from September until April or May (2). In early November, small groups of pratincoles nest close to each other on rocky islets. They lay an average of two tan-coloured eggs patterned with dark brown, into a depression in the rock, which may sometimes be lined with the regurgitated exoskeletons of insects (2) (3).

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