It breeds in Australia's interior and winters in northern and eastern parts of the continent, Indonesia and New Guinea.

They are a migratory species that generally move to the southern parts of their distribution range to breed during spring and summer.

During winter they migrate to northern Australia, New Guinea, Java, Sulawesi and southern Borneo.

[4] The pratincole is also known as the Arnhem Land grouse, Australian courser, roadrunner (not to be confused with the genus of North American cuckoos, Geococcyx), nankeen plover and swallow-plover.

[5] Juvenile plumage is similar to a non-breeding adult but a slightly paler sandy brown colour.

The lores lack the black colour and the forehead, crown and nape are streaked dark brown.

[5] The habitat of the Australian pratincole is treeless, open and sparsely wooded plains, grasslands, claypans and gibberstone.

The birds can also be found around the margins of wetlands, creeks, river beds, bore drains, lagoons, springs, claypans and sewage farms.

During the breeding season, they inhabit low, scattered shrubland, because the chicks use the vegetation to hide and shelter in.

[5] The eggs are light cream to stony brown in colour, with short wavy streaks and irregularly shaped spots of brownish black, intermingled with smaller underlying bluish-grey markings which are evenly distributed .

It appears that the nest site selection is part of the pair-bond ritual, with both sexes involved equally.

They have been observed running to a spot where one sits down and shuffles its belly and throws small objects sideways.

The calls are sweet or plaintive whistles, or very soft and muted trills and loud sharp notes.