Glareolidae

Rennvogel ( Cursorius cursor)

The Pratincole -like ( Glareolidae ) are a family of birds of the order Charadriiformes ( Charadriiformes ).

Features

Pratincole -like, around 17 to 30 inches long and are characterized by a slender, elongated physique. They have a pointed head and large eyes. Your short beak is curved thin and light. The wings are long and pointed, her back falls steeply. The tail of the birds (especially the Pratincoles ) is forked. The legs are long and very thin, they wear three longer ( some species also a short fourth) toe. Your reaching down shoulder springs form a small hump. The plumage color varies from dark brown to beige to gray. Often, the plumage is patterned on the head and neck.

Way of life

Racing birds search for food such as insects, snails and lizards always on the ground, while Pratincoles catch with her beak wide insects in the air. However, they despise no easy accessible from the ground prey. All species are ground-nesting birds, they lay two to three brownish, dark spotted eggs in a bowl. It is sometimes limited baton but never padded. The young are precocial.

Habitat and Distribution

This family is restricted to the warmer regions of the Old World. The birds come in southern Europe, southern and central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and in Australia. Racing birds inhabit dry areas like steppes. Pratincoles are bound to the living on aquatic insects and therefore not far to take it. Pratincoles are migratory and wintering in Africa and Australia, remain living there Pratincoles.

System

The approximately 17 species of the family are divided into two subfamilies:

• The Pratincoles ( Glareolinae )
• The racing birds and the crocodile monitor ( Cursoriinae )