ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE

Photographed on Langkawi, Malaysia, April 2017

(*   809)             ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE             Gladiola maldivarum 

MALAYSIA              60

Found in marshes, large rivers, lakes, dry rice paddies and open country. 23-24 cm. Scare to locally common breeding visitor and passage migrant to Peninsula Malaysia. 

ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE

Photographed at long distance on Dampier Creek, near Broome, September 2016

 809      ORIENTAL PRATINCOLE         Glareola maldivarum

Australia         (653)

Also known as Swallow Plover. 23-24 cm, wingspan c. 60-65 cm. found on plains; shallow wet and dry edges of open bare wetlands; tidal mudflats, beaches. Breeds Pakistan, India, parts of SE Asia, China, Japan and Philippines: migrates to spend Nov.-Feb. or later, from coastal nw. WA to Top End (NT) and Gulf country of nw Q. Within Australia nomadic depending on rainfall, huge companies (tens of thousands) suddenly appearing over plains, then moving on.

Photographed at Grey River (north of Port Hedland, WA) Sept 2016