Page 174 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Charadriidae Species Charadrius morinellus
Dotterel pale “V” from over
eyes to nape
black, buff, and
apricot markings
on upperparts
plain wings
dark stripe
through eye black cap
JUVENILE
(AUTUMN)
broad white stripe
ADULT over eye to nape
(SUMMER)
dull plumage
(paler in face pattern less
winter) sharp than female’s
white
thin black and
IN FLIGHT throat
broad white bands
around chest
brighter plumage
than male’s
duller underside
than female’s
rich rust-red
black belly underside with
MALE (white in winter) blackish belly
(SUMMER)
FEMALE (SUMMER)

ne of the few European birds with reversed sexual roles,
Oand females larger and brighter than males, the Dotterel is
a mountain-top or tundra breeder that appears in small flocks FLIGHT: quick, agile, with fast, deep wingbeats.
at regular places in the lowlands, usually cereal fields,
on migration. It is famously tame, almost recklessly so
at times, and may be attracted to within a metre or
two (3–7ft) by a whistled imitation of its call. Its
future range may well diminish with the increasing
effects of climate change.
VOICE Soft pip pip or sweet wit-ee-wee; rather silent
outside breeding season.
NESTING Shallow scraped
hollow on ground, SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
usually under cover of Occupies wild northern tundra
low vegetation; 3 eggs; GOLDEN PLOVER and mountainous areas with
1 brood; May–August. winter; see p.174 similar habitat south to Pyrenees,
FEEDING Eats flies, no white often with abundance of stones
“V” over
beetles, earthworms, eye and scree. On migration, in
spiders, and similar small no breast- BREEDING HABITAT lowland fields in traditional
The Dotterel breeds in high,
terrestrial creatures, band rolling, or flat-topped areas inland.
tilting forwards in mountainous regions with low Seen in the UK
typical plover fashion. cover, or in tundra. J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 20–22cm (8–9in) Wingspan 57–64cm (22 1 ⁄2 –25in) Weight 90–145g (3 1 ⁄4 –5oz)
Social Small flocks Lifespan 5–10 years Status Secure†
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