The rufous-chested dotterel or rufous-chested plover, is a species of bird in subfamily Charadriinae of family Charadriidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and the Falkland Islands.
Region
Southern South America
Typical Environment
Breeds in southern Argentina and Chile, including Tierra del Fuego, and on the Falkland Islands. During the austral winter it moves north to lowland grasslands and coastal plains of Argentina, Uruguay, southern Brazil, and central Chile. It favors open habitats with short vegetation such as Patagonian steppe, grazed meadows, coastal prairies, and saltmarsh edges. On passage and in winter it also occurs on tidal flats, sandy shores, and muddy margins of wetlands.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1200 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Also called the rufous-chested plover, this species breeds in the far south of South America and undertakes an austral migration to more northerly grasslands in winter. Its striking rufous breast band is most vivid in breeding plumage and helps separate it from other small plovers. Like many plovers, it uses a run-and-pause foraging style to snatch invertebrates from open ground. It nests in simple ground scrapes and relies on camouflage and vigilance to protect its clutch.
Temperament
alert and wary
Flight Pattern
fast direct flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically nests on the ground in open steppe in a shallow scrape, often with minimal lining. Likely monogamous within a season; both sexes share incubation and chick care. Outside the breeding season it forages and roosts in small to medium flocks, sometimes mixing with other shorebirds.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
Vocalizations are clear, piping whistles and sharp peeps used in contact and alarm. Display flights include repeated, slightly trilled notes; alarm calls become more insistent near the nest.
