Oriental Pratincole
Glareola maldivarum
IUCN status: Least concern
Flyway population 2 880 000
Australian Population 2 880 000
Plumage
Adult plumage: The upperparts are olive-brown. The chin and the throat are cream, with a black border. The lores are black. The breast is olive-brown grading through orange-buff to cream on the flanks and belly. The tail is white with black tips and swallow-like in shape. The bill is short, black with a red base. The legs are black.
Juvenile: Similar to the adult plumage, but the feathers of the upperparts are edged with buff. Most birds are in the adult plumage by the time they reach Australia.
Confusing Species
Australian Pratincole: This species is more slender, paler and has longer legs. In flight it has a square tail.
Distribution
Distribution
This species is found in the north of Australia, with its largest concentrations found in the northwest. It inhabits open grasslands and the muddy flood plains. It has been observed in the south of the continent but in small numbers.
Migratory habits
This bird arrives in northern Australia late in November and December and has nomadic movements whilst here. It leaves at the end of March and early April.
Breeding
The Oriental Pratincole breeds from Pakistan in the east through Indian and Sri Lanka, China and Taiwan. It has also breed in Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand and Burma, plus probably in Mongolia. It nest in colonies in the banks of rivers. lakes and rice paddies.
Recent Sightings in Queensland of Little Curlew
| 2025-02-10 | Lockhart River (Iron Range) Airport |
| 2025-01-18 | Wellington Point–Geoff Skinner Reserve |
| 2025-01-14 | Mount Isa, Queensland, AU (-20.587, 139.527) |
| 2025-01-13 | Warrigal Water Hole–Painted Rocks |
| 2025-01-13 | Lake Moondarra |
| 2024-12-10 | Brighton Downs Station |
| 2024-12-02 | Boulia Mount Isa Highway, Wills, Queensland, AU (-22.882, 139.881) |
| 2024-12-02 | Diamantina Developmental Rd, Wills AU-QLD -22.83734, 139.83859 |
| 2024-12-01 | Bedourie, Queensland, AU (-24.882, 139.733) |
References
- eBird. 2021. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org (Accessed: Date 12/4/2026)
- Rogers A, Fuller RA & Amano T (2023) Australia’s migratory shorebirds: Trends and prospects. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. University of Queensland, Brisbane.
- Driessen, J., Kidd, L. R., Weller, D. R., Purnell, C., Maguire, G., Jaensch, R., and LeClair, S. M. (2025). Australian National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat. Report for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.
- https://sproggies63.github.io/birding_apps/