| Red-capped Plover | |
|---|---|
| Male in breeding plumage | |
| Female in breeding plumage | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Charadriidae |
| Genus: | Charadrius |
| Species: | C. ruficapillus |
| Binomial name | |
| Charadrius ruficapillus Temminck, 1822 |
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The Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus), also known as the Red-capped Dotterel, is a small plover. It breeds in Australia. The species is closely related to (and sometimes considered conspecific with) the Kentish Plover, Javan Plover and White-fronted Plover.
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Red-capped Plovers have white underparts and forehead. Their upperparts are mainly grey-brown. Adult males have a rufous crown and hindneck. Adult females have a paler rufous and grey brown crown and hindneck, with pale loral stripe. The upperwing of Charadrius ruficapillus shows dark brown remiges and primary coverts with a white wingbar in flight. Its length is 14-16 cm and its wingspan is 27-34 cm; weight 35-40 g. Breeding plumage shows a red-brown crown and nape with black margins. Non-breeding plumage is duller and lacks the black margins. [1]
The Red-capped Plover is widespread in Australia; it is a vagrant to New Zealand, although it bred there for some time in small numbers from 1950-1980.[2] The species occupies a range of coastal and inland habitats, including estuaries, bays, beaches, sandflats and mudflats; inland saline wetlands. It is also found in inland wetland areas with bare ground.
Mainly small invertebrates, especially molluscs, crustaceans and worms.
The Red-capped Plover is a seasonal breeder on the coasts of Australia, but breeds in response to unpredictable rains inland.[2] Nests on ground in vicinity of wetlands; nest a small depression with no or minimal lining. Clutch of 2 pale yellowish-brown eggs, irregularly spotted black. Incubation period 30 days; incubating mainly done by female. Young precocial and nidifugous.
With a large range and no evidence of significant population decline, this species' conservation status is of Least Concern.