Hooded Plover
Thinornis cucullatus
The Hooded Plover (Thinornis cucullatus) is a uncommon plovers and lapwing found only in Australia, weighing about 100 g. The hooded plover or hooded dotterel is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae.
About the Hooded Plover
The hooded plover or hooded dotterel is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae. It is endemic to southern Australia, where it inhabits ocean beaches and subcoastal lagoons.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The hooded plover is medium in size for a plover, stocky, and pale in colour. Its length is 190 to 230 mm (7.5–9.1 in) and its wing-span 230 to 440 mm (9.1–17.3 in). It has a black hood and throat with a white collar. Its red bill has a black tip. It has a red eye ring and orange legs. Underparts are white. Males and females are similar. Adults and juveniles are similar except the juveniles do not have the black head and hindneck, which are instead a sandy brown.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Hooded Plover can be seen all year round, with peak activity in November. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Hooded Plover?
- The hooded plover is medium in size for a plover, stocky, and pale in colour. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Hooded Plover?
- The Hooded Plover is a medium sized bird weighing about 100 g.
- Where can you see a Hooded Plover?
- The Hooded Plover is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to a Hooded Plover?
- The Hooded Plover is most easily confused with the Shore Plover.
- Is the Hooded Plover endangered?
- The Hooded Plover is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Hooded Plover for real
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