Black-winged Pratincole - AEWA

AEWA Technical Series No. 4
Life history
Breeding:
Feeding:
Breeds in steppe and desert belts of
Eurasia, mainly in Russia and in
Kazakhstan, in the vicinity of watering
places.
Negatively affected in summer by
pronounced weather changes such as
severe rains, hailstorms and droughts.
Clutch size of 3-4 eggs.
Mortality (clutches and chicks) may
reach 60-100% annually.
Insectivorous bird,
feeding on beetles, ants,
grasshoppers, locusts, etc.
In spring often feeds close
to colonies on patches of
bare ground.
In summer catches insects
in the air, flying low over
ground or water.
At the end of summer
usually feeds in flocks
high in the air, catching
abundant insects.
In wintering areas feeds
on locusts and other
flying insects.
During the day makes
regular flights to water
bodies for watering.
Migration:
Wintering areas located
in southern and southwestern
Africa.
Areas/sites of regular
stopovers where large
numbers can be observed
are unknown.
Habitat
requirements
Breeding habitat:
Pastures in steppes with low
vegetation and salted soils
(“solontchaks” and “solonets”),
usually close to water bodies, which
are used as watering places for cattle.
Locally breeds in ploughed fields;
there regular cultivation takes place in
summer.
Winter habitat:
Grassland savannahs with
high population densities
of insects: locusts, ants,
and beetles, which
become abundant during
their mass dispersal
season.
Habitat on passage:
Specific features
unknown. Presumably
high-altitude migration
takes place.
Avoids places with high vegetation
cover, therefore lower grazing
pressures leading to restoration of
vegetation cover are unfavourable for
the species.
Similar unfavourable consequences
are observed with increased climate
humidity, leading also to development
of higher and denser vegetation.
International Single Species Action Plan for the Conservation of the Black-winged Pratincole 17