Red-kneed Dotterel

The Red-kneed Dotterel, Erythrogonys cinctus, presents a striking appearance with its black cap extending from the bill below the eyes and merging at the nape into the grey-brown of its back. Its white chin and throat contrast sharply with a broad black breastband that connects to the nape and extends to the flanks as a chestnut stripe. The belly and vent are white, while the back and mantle are grey-brown. The upperwing is mainly black with a white trailing edge, and the upper leg, including the tarsal joint or "knee," is a vivid red, as is the bill, which is tipped with dark coloration.

Identification Tips

When identifying the Red-kneed Dotterel, look for the distinctive red "knees" and the red bill with a dark tip. The black cap and breastband, along with the chestnut flank stripe, are key features. This medium-sized, long-legged bird has a wingspan of 33–38 centimeters and weighs between 40–55 grams.

Habitat

This species favors the margins of shallow ephemeral and permanent freshwater wetlands, and less commonly, saline wetlands. It is rarely found in tidal wetlands.

Distribution

Native to mainland Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia, the Red-kneed Dotterel has also been recorded as a vagrant in Tasmania, Palau, and New Zealand.

Behaviour

The Red-kneed Dotterel is known for its gregarious nature, often associating with other waders of its own and different species, even during nesting. It exhibits nomadic and sometimes irruptive movements.

Breeding

Breeding typically occurs from October to January, although nesting can happen in other months if conditions are favorable. The dotterel nests on the ground on wetland margins and may use nests of other birds such as hoary-headed grebes. It lays a clutch of four cream eggs, which are profusely covered with lines, speckles, or blotches. The young are precocial and nidifugous, meaning they are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of hatching.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Red-kneed Dotterel consists of arthropods, molluscs, annelids, and seeds.

Conservation status

The Red-kneed Dotterel is classified as Least Concern due to its large range and the absence of significant population decline.