Inland Dotterel
Peltohyas australis
The Inland Dotterel (Peltohyas australis) is a rare plovers and lapwing found only in Australia, weighing about 84 g. The inland dotterel or inland plover is an endemic bird of the arid Australian interior.
About the Inland Dotterel
The inland dotterel or inland plover is an endemic bird of the arid Australian interior. It forms loose flocks in sparsely vegetated gibber plain and claypans in the day where it loafs in the shade and eats shoots of shrubs. It is most often encountered at night when it forages on roads for insects. The relative remoteness of its habitat means that it is not well studied. The most detailed observations of the species were made by the South African arid-zone ornithology specialist Gordon Maclean in the 1970s. Alternate English names include Australian plover, inland plover, desert plover and prairie plover.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The inland dotterel is a medium-sized plover with a distinctive cryptic plumage. Males and females are similarly sized: 19–23 cm (7.5–9 in) in length, a wingspan of 43–47 cm (17–19 in) a weight of 80–90 g (2.8–3.2 oz), and a short bill 1.7 cm (0.67 in). It is unlikely to be confused with any other species when found in its normal habitat. Its upperparts are a rich sandy buff, mottled with dark brown. The black band across the crown extending down through the eye is unique. The face, ear coverts and neck are white, as is the vent.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in September. It is a variable species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an Inland Dotterel?
- The inland dotterel is a medium-sized plover with a distinctive cryptic plumage. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an Inland Dotterel?
- The Inland Dotterel is a medium sized bird weighing about 84 g.
- Where can you see an Inland Dotterel?
- The Inland Dotterel is endemic to Australia, which is the only country where it occurs.
- What birds look similar to an Inland Dotterel?
- The Inland Dotterel is most easily confused with the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, the Shore Plover and the Spot-breasted Lapwing.
- Is the Inland Dotterel endangered?
- The Inland Dotterel is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Inland Dotterel for real
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