Birds
Tawny-throated Dotterel
Oreopholus ruficollis
Nesting on bare open ground far from any coastline, a tawny-throated dotterel migrates thousands of kilometres each year between Patagonian breeding grounds and non-breeding range further north in South America.
Overview
The tawny-throated dotterel, Oreopholus ruficollis, is a Least Concern bird native to grassland and desert habitat across Patagonia and adjacent South American regions. Its unusual inland breeding habitat, its long-distance annual migration, and its distinctive tawny throat patch make it one of the more geographically wide-ranging plovers found anywhere in South America.
A plover that abandoned the coast
While most plovers stay tethered to beaches, riverbanks, or wetland edges, the tawny-throated dotterel instead breeds across dry, open Patagonian grassland far from water, a habitat choice that sets it apart from nearly all of its shorebird relatives.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and generally stable across suitable grassland and desert habitat throughout its breeding and non-breeding range.
Tawny-throated Dotterel: common questions
Why is the tawny-throated dotterel unusual among plovers?
This species breeds across open grassland and dry terrain far from any coastline, unlike many plover relatives that nest along beaches, riverbanks, or wetland edges.
Does the tawny-throated dotterel migrate?
Yes, this species undertakes long-distance migration between its southern breeding range and non-breeding grounds further north in South America each year.
How did the tawny-throated dotterel get its name?
This species has a distinctive tawny-coloured throat patch, a feature that gives the species its common name and helps distinguish it from similar open-country shorebirds.
How does the tawny-throated dotterel protect its nest?
This species nests directly on bare or sparsely vegetated ground, relying on camouflage rather than physical concealment to protect eggs and chicks from predators.