Double-banded Plover — Australian Bird Identification Guide | BetterBirding

Bird guideDouble-banded Plover

The largest number nest on the braided riverbeds of Marlborough , Canterbury , Otago and Southland in the South Island.

Spot this species Read on Wikipedia

⚠️Not listed

At a glance

FamilyPlovers and Lapwings

SizeMedium

RarityCommon

HabitatNorthern populations of banded dotterel commonly inhabit sandy beaches and sandpits, as well as a few pairs accustoming to shell banks in harbours, with a few found on gravel beaches, with nesting sites generally clustered around stream-mouths.

Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from March to April.

Range map

Range map

Occurrence window

200approx hotspots

22816approx records

6states

Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence

Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.

Species notes

Overview

Small migratory plover. Widespread in New Zealand breeding on braided rivers on both the North and South Islands. Nonbreeding birds more difficult to distinguish from other similar plovers: look for pale hindcollar, buff color on face, and two diffuse gray-brown streaks extending onto the breast from near the bend of the wing. This species also has shorter legs and a shorter, thinner bill than Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers.

Behavior

Much of the population migrates to overwinter along coastal areas in Australia, but also ventures into freshwater wetlands and grasslands.

Gallery

Regional timing

Tasmania

Peak: March to July2,201 records

Victoria

Peak: March to April9,449 records

New South Wales

Peak: March to April7,827 records

Western Australia

Peak: March to April100 records

South Australia

Peak: March to April957 records

Queensland

Peak: March to August2,253 records

Northern Territory

Peak: March17 records

Australian Capital Territory

Peak: June4 records

Commonly confused with

Hooded PloverThinornis cucullatusSmall sturdy plover with pink legs and red eyering. Adult has black hood that extends down onto the chin. In western Australia it is also found on saline lakes.→Banded LapwingVanellus tricolorSmaller and shorter-legged than Masked Lapwing. Not generally an urban bird, it is more common inland.→Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaBreeding plumage shows black belly and face with mottled white sides and undertail coverts and a white stripe down the side of the neck that continues onto the sides of the chest and flanks. Nonbreeding plumage is duller grayish-brown overall with a variable golden wash, often quite bright. Juveniles are crisp and neatly spangled above, washed with gold on the upperparts. At all seasons, note more slender shape, slightly smaller bill, and brighter golden tones than Black-bellied Plover, along with grayish underwing in flight. Extremely similar to American Golden-Plover; Pacific is slightly shorter-winged, longer-legged, and larger-billed, but these features are difficult to judge. Juvenile Pacific is usually brighter than American, especially on the face and neck. Pacific found more regularly on beaches and mudflats than American, but much overlap; also note range. Breeds on Arctic tundra from Alaska to Russia. Winters extensively across Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand; small numbers found in fall on west coast of U. S.→