Although the season is almost over, Malta’s spring migration season continues to impress birdwatchers and nature lovers with yet another rare and elegant visitor gracing our skies – this time, the Collared Pratincole (Glareola pratincole), known in Maltese as Perniċjotta.

Spotted over the weekend at the Għadira Nature Reserve, this graceful wader was photographed and documented by local birdwatchers. Though seen from a distance, the bird was unmistakable in its sleek silhouette and swift, swallow-like flight.

BirdLife Malta describes this bird as an ‘exercise in elegance’, the Collared Pratincole boasts a slim, streamlined body, long legs, and soft, earthy plumage accented with sharp facial markings that are so distinctive, it looks like it's wearing expertly applied eyeliner! In fact, its resemblance to swallows in the air is so striking that none other than Carl Linnaeus, the father of modern taxonomy, originally grouped it with the swallow family.

While technically a wader, the Collared Pratincole breaks the mould. Unlike typical shorebirds that forage in mud for insects, pratincoles are aerial hunters, snatching prey mid-flight with swift precision. It’s this unique behaviour, combined with its graceful flight, that makes every sighting a truly special experience.

These fleeting visits are a reminder of Malta’s vital role in the migratory routes of countless bird species, and why preserving natural habitats like Għadira and Salina is so crucial. Grab your binoculars and see what nature has in store this season. Spring migration is still underway, and you never know what might soar across your path next!

Have you ever seen one of these beauties?