Black-fronted Dotterel

The Black-fronted Dotterel, Charadrius melanops, is a diminutive plover, a member of the family Charadriidae. It is a bird that captures the essence of the Australian and New Zealand shorelines, with a length of 16–18 cm, a wingspan of 33–35 cm, and a weight of 30–35 g. Both sexes share a similar plumage, which remains constant throughout the year.

Identification Tips

This species is readily identified by its striking black face mask and forehead, along with a pronounced V-shaped black band across the chest. The upper parts are mottled brown, blending seamlessly with the wings and crown, providing excellent camouflage from predators from above. The orbital eye rings and the basal portion of the bill are a vivid red, contrasting with the black tip of the bill. The legs are a soft pale orange. Juveniles are somewhat less conspicuous, lacking the black breast band and forehead, and sporting a greyish beak.

Habitat

The Black-fronted Dotterel is found along the margins of freshwater sources such as wetlands, lakes, swamps, dams, and billabongs, as well as in ephemeral claypan pools. It occasionally ventures into saline mudflats and estuaries, but shuns deeper waters and dense vegetation.

Distribution

This bird is widespread across Australia, including Tasmania, and has self-introduced to New Zealand, where it is now also common.

Behaviour

Black-fronted Dotterels are typically sedentary, with individuals, pairs, or family groups claiming a stretch of habitat as their own. Some, however, may travel considerable distances, and in areas rich in food, they may gather in flocks.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet is composed of crustaceans, insects, and seeds. They exhibit a distinctive foraging behavior, running in short bursts while maintaining a horizontal body posture, pausing to peck at the ground with a rapid bobbing motion.

Breeding

Breeding occurs from August to February, although they may breed at any time when conditions are favorable, such as after rains in Northern Australia. Courtship involves calls and aerial displays by both sexes. The nest is a simple depression adorned with twigs, shells, and pebbles. The eggs, typically 2-3 in number, are greyish-yellow with brown and lavender spots. Both parents share incubation duties and remain close to the nest, even when not actively incubating. They protect the eggs from extreme heat by shading them or moistening them with wet belly feathers. After hatching, chicks vacate the nest within 24 hours to seek shelter, while parents continue their vigilant care, often feigning injury to distract predators.

Diet and Feeding

The Black-fronted Dotterel feeds on crustaceans, insects, and seeds, which it hunts with a series of short runs and pecks, characterized by a bobbing motion.

Conservation status

The IUCN Red List classifies the Black-fronted Dotterel as Least Concern, indicating a stable population without significant threats to its survival.