| Inland Dotterel | |
|---|---|
| Charadrius australis | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Charadriidae |
| Genus: | Charadrius Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Species: | C. australis |
| Binomial name | |
| Charadrius australis Gould, 1841 |
|
The Inland Dotterel (Charadrius australis) also known as the Australian Dotterel and sometimes placed in the monotypic genus Peltohyas, is a medium-sized Charadriine plover.
Contents |
Unmistakable. Upperparts generally buff mottled with dark brown. Face pale but marked by vertical black band crossing eye and fore-crown. Underparts generally buff and white, marked with distinctice black Y on breast, forming collar on hind-neck, and joined to black band on belly separating white lower belly from rich buff lower breast and flanks. Measurements: length 19–23 cm; wingspan 43–47 cm; weight 80 g.
Endemic to southern and central arid zone of mainland Australia.
Open, arid country; distribution bounded by 100 mm summer isohyet.
Seeds and invertebrates.
Nests on bare ground in shallow depression; clutch of 3 brown eggs, marked with irregular black spots; incubation period c.28 days; young precocial and nidifugous.
With a large range and no evidence of significant population decline, this species’ conservation status is of Least Concern.