The Inland Dotterel, Charadrius australis , also known as the Australian Dotterel and sometimes placed in the monotypic (one single species) genus Peltohyas, is a medium-sized Charadriine plover.
Description
Unmistakable. Upperparts generally buff mottled with dark brown. Face pale but marked by vertical black band crossing eye and fore-crown. Underparts generally buff and white, marked with distinctice black Y on breast, forming collar on hind-neck, and joined to black band on belly separating white lower belly from rich buff lower breast and flanks. Measurements: length 19-23 cm; wingspan 43-47 cm; weight 80 g.
Distribution
Endemic to southern and central arid zone of mainland Australia.
Habitat
Open, arid country; distribution bounded by 100 mm summer isohyet.
Food
Seeds and invertebrates (= animals without internal skeleton, such as insects, larvae, earthworms, millipedes, snails, spiders).
Breeding
Nests on bare ground in shallow depression; clutch of 3 brown eggs, marked with irregular black spots; incubation period c.28 days; young precocial and nidifugous.
Conservation
With a large range and no evidence of significant population decline, this species’ conservation status is of Least Concern.
