Animalscaretips
What do they look like? New Zealand dotterels are small shorebirds, found on sandy beaches and sandspits or feeding in tidal estuaries. They are largely pale grey-brown on their head and back, with off-white underparts that flush rusty orange before and during the breeding season (September to February).
- Is a dotterel a plover?
- What does a banded dotterel look like?
- Where do NZ Dotterels live?
- Why are dotterel endangered?
- Are banded Dotterels rare?
- What kind of bird is a plover?
- What is a kereru bird?
- Do NZ Dotterels migrate?
- How long do dotterel eggs take to hatch?
- Are lapwings plovers?
- What do black billed gulls eat?
- Where does the black fronted tern live?
Is a dotterel a plover?
The Eurasian dotterel (Charadrius morinellus), also known in Europe as just dotterel, is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The dotterel is a brown and black streaked bird with a broad white eye-stripe and an orange-red chest band when in breeding plumage.
What does a banded dotterel look like?
The banded dotterel is a small, compact plover, plain brown above and mainly white below. In breeding plumage from about June to December the male has a broad chestnut breast band and a narrow black neck band above this. Both of these bands are present but duller in the female.
Where do NZ Dotterels live?
Distribution and habitat
New Zealand dotterels are found on or near the coast around much of the North Island. They are sparse on the west coast from about Taharoa north to North Cape, and there are a few isolated pairs in Taranaki. The bulk of the population is on the east coast between North Cape and East Cape.
Why are dotterel endangered?
The endangered New Zealand dotterel was once widespread and common. Now there are only about 2500 birds left, making dotterels more at risk than some species of kiwi. The impacts of coastal development on habitat, introduced predators and disturbance during breeding seasons are all factors in the drop in numbers.
Are banded Dotterels rare?
The banded dotterel population may be in the order of 50,000 birds, and is considered to be in decline, primarily due to the effects of introduced predators.
What kind of bird is a plover?
plover, any of numerous species of plump-breasted birds of the shorebird family Charadriidae (order Charadriiformes). There are about three dozen species of plovers, 15 to 30 centimetres (6 to 12 inches) long, with long wings, moderately long legs, short necks, and straight bills that are shorter than their heads.
What is a kereru bird?
Kererū are very typically pigeon-shaped in that they have a relatively small head, a straight soft-based bill, and a plump, puffed-out breast. ... The Maori names for wood pigeon include kererū, kūkū and kūkupa; are of which are onomatopoeic - meaning the name tends to mimic the quite cooing sounds they make.
Do NZ Dotterels migrate?
Dispersal migration
NZ only. Some stay at breeding places, but most will move to flocking sites (eg Waipu, Omaha, Mangawhai, Whangapoaua, Great Barrier Island)in winter.
How long do dotterel eggs take to hatch?
The eggs are incubated for 28 - 32 days by both parents before they hatch. The female tends to sit on the nest during the day and the male dotterel sits on the nest at night. Chicks are guarded by their parents till they fledge.
Are lapwings plovers?
Despite the species being also known as the masked plover and often called the spur-winged plover or just plover in its native range, lapwings are classified to their own subfamily, Vanellinae, and not to the closely related plover subfamily, Charadriinae.
What do black billed gulls eat?
Black-billed gulls eat small fish, whitebait and flatfish, and take earthworms and grass grubs from pastureland. They also feed on the wing, taking cicadas, moths and aquatic insects. In winter they fly to estuaries and harbours to eat marine invertebrates and shellfish, or to parks for worms and human handouts.
Where does the black fronted tern live?
Distribution and habitat
Black-fronted terns breed only on the braided riverbeds of the eastern and southern South Island, from Marlborough to Southland. They are found on or near braided channels of inland rivers and streams, often at high altitudes, and on nearby farmland, either under pasture or cultivation.
