Glareolidae

Oriental Pratincole.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Aves
Order:Charadriiformes
Family:Glareolidae
Genera
Pluvianus
Cursorius
Rhinoptilus
Stiltia
Glareola

Glareolidae is a family of birds in the wader suborder Charadri. It contains two distinct groups:

  • The pratincoles: these have short legs, long pointed wings and long forked tails. They typically hunt their insect prey on the wing like swallows
  • The coursers: these have long legs, short wings and long pointed bills which curve downwards. They inhabit deserts and similar arid regions.

Taxonomy.