The black-fronted dotterel is a small plover in the family Charadriidae that is found throughout much of Australia and New Zealand.
Region
Australasia
Typical Environment
Widespread across mainland Australia and Tasmania wherever permanent or ephemeral freshwater is present, and established widely in New Zealand. It favors the margins of rivers, lakes, billabongs, farm dams, sewage ponds, and flooded paddocks. Typically avoids exposed ocean beaches, preferring quiet inland shores with open, sparsely vegetated ground. After rains it can rapidly colonize temporary wetlands in arid and semi-arid regions.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The black-fronted dotterel is the only member of the genus Elseyornis and is a small plover of inland waters. It often performs a broken-wing distraction display to lure predators away from its nest. Nests are simple scrapes on gravel or sand near water, sometimes decorated with small stones or shells. Its bright red eye-ring and rufous shoulder patches are distinctive at close range.
Temperament
alert and somewhat wary
Flight Pattern
low, fast flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually seen singly or in pairs, occasionally in small loose groups at good feeding sites. Breeds on open gravel or sand near water, laying eggs in a shallow scrape; both parents incubate and tend the young. Performs distraction displays and leads chicks to cover when disturbed.
Migratory Pattern
Partial migrant
Song Description
Calls are sharp, piping wit and peep notes, often given in bursts during alarm or display. In flight it emits a rapid, high-pitched series of whistles.
