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This is an uncommon breeding resident in the dry lowlands. Large flocks of many hundred birds arrive in the island during the migrant season. This species breeds from Pakistan down towards Maldives, Sri Lanka, Indochina and the Philippines. The breeding population in the island is not known to migrate but many populations are known to fly south towards the Indomalaya region and Austral Asia during winter.

The conservation status of this species is regarded as “Endangered” (National Red List 2012).

The Oriental Pratincole is a species protected under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance as amended by Act No. 22 of 2009.

This mannerism of this species reminds me of a fusion between a lapwing and a swallow. When it is on the ground they walk and behave very similar to a lapwing or a plover. But on the wing, they look very much like a large swallow. I have seen large flocks of these birds wheeling in the formation of a cylinder and as they fly close to the ground the birds dash pursuing their insect prey in the same way as swallows. I have seen these interesting birds in Panama, Yala, Kalametiya, Bubdala and Weerawila in the South in the Delft Island and in the Mannar island in the north. They are usually found perched on lake shores of large dry zone tanks and being crepuscular in habits fly about a lot during dawn and dusk. They breed very much in the same way of most plovers on open ground close to a cowpat.

On the 23rd of October 2021 I was quite pleased to see a flock of these birds flying down across the Hunuwilagama Tank. Thereafter on the 4th of October 2023 a flock of about 250 birds were seen at Tala Wila. On both occasions they were gone in two days.