Double-banded Plover.
Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka © Bird Explorers
Double-banded Plover.
Photo: K Vang and W Dabrowka © Bird Explorers
Distribution map of Charadrius bicinctus
Map © Birds Australia Birdata
Double-banded Plover
Scientific name: Charadrius bicinctus
Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes
- Featured Bird Groups
- Shore birds and waders
What does it look like?
Description
The Double-banded Plover is a small shorebird (wader). The breeding male is white below and grey brown above with two bands across its chest: a black upper band and a wider chestnut lower band. The forehead is white from the bill to the eye, with a black band running from eye to eye like a mask, and there is a white eyebrow. The legs are greenish-yellow and the short slender bill is black. The breeding female is duller in colour with a narrower frontal bar. In non breeding Double-banded Plovers, the chest bands fade from black to a dull grey and the chestnut almost becomes obscure. Immature birds lack chest bands. In flight, the underwings are white, and there is a narrow white wingbar on the upper wing and a dark tail with whitish outer feathers. Most birds seen in Australia are in the duller non-breeding plumage. This species is also known as the Double-banded Dotterel and in New Zealand it is known as the Banded Dotterel.
Similar species
The Double-banded Plover is the only plover in Australia with two breast bands or two broken bands or tabs when not breeding. It also has a more upright stance than most other small plovers. Non-breeding and juvenile birds can be confused with non-breeding and juvenile Lesser Sand (Mongolian) Plovers, C. mongolus, or Greater Sand Plovers, C. leschenaultii.
Where does it live?
Distribution
In Australia, the Double-banded Plover is found mainly on the east coast and Tasmania and is a regular visitor to Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands. It has been recorded occasionaly in Western Australia. It is widespread throughout New Zealand.
Habitat
The Double-banded Plover is found on coastal beaches, mudflats, sewage farms, river banks, fields, dunes, upland tussock grasses and shingle.Seasonal movements
The Double-banded Plover migrates to New Zealand where it breeds and moves back to south-eastern Australia in the winter.What does it do?
Feeding
Double-banded Plovers eat molluscs, crustaceans, insects, and occasionally seeds and fruit.
Breeding
The Double-banded Plover breeds in New Zealand and the nest site is a scrape in the ground lined with stones, particulalry on braided river beds (having small channels separated by gravel bars). It is highly faithful to a nest site. Both parents incubate and chicks forage close to the nest.Living with us
Living with humans
Double-banded Plovers are secure in Australia, but nesting sites on braided rivers are threatened by flood mitigation works and invasive trees such as willow.
References
Marchant, S. and Higgins, P.J. (eds) 1993. Handbook of Australian New Zealand And Antartic Birds Vol. 2: (Raptors To Lapwings). Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Pringle, J.D. 1987. The Shorebirds of Australia. Angus and Robertson and the National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife, Sydney.
Morcombe, M. 2000. Field guide to Australian Birds. Steve Parish Publishing.