Tawny-throated Dotterel
NameTawny-throated Dotterel
Common NameTawny-throated Dotterel
Scientific NameOreopholus ruficollis
FamilyCharadriidae
Wingspan (cm)48
Length (cm)27
Weight (g)175
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are greyish-brown with dark streaking, while the head is grey with a distinct white supercilium and dark eye-stripe. The throat and upper breast are a striking tawny-orange, bordered below by a narrow white band and a prominent black patch on the lower breast and belly. The flanks are whitish, and the bill is dark and relatively short.
Vocalization / CallVocalizations include a soft, plaintive 'pee-wit' or 'wit-wit' call, often given when disturbed or in flight. It can also produce a trilling sound.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsgrassland, desert, mountain
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound in South America, primarily along the Andes and adjacent lowlands from southern Ecuador and Peru, south through Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina, extending to Tierra del Fuego. Some populations undertake seasonal migrations.
Identifying FeaturesTawny-orange throat, Prominent black belly patch, White supercilium (eyebrow stripe), Greyish head and upperparts, Stocky plover shape
Description
The Tawny-throated Dotterel is a medium-sized, stocky plover found in dry, open habitats across South America. It is characterized by its distinctive tawny throat and a prominent black belly patch, often seen foraging on the ground for invertebrates.
