Fauna
Bird

Double-banded Plover

Charadrius bicinctus

Also known as Banded Dotterel, Pohowera

Double-banded plovers nest on open shingle riverbeds, coastal shores, and windswept subantarctic plateaus where their cryptic plumage conceals them against bare pebbles. Breeding adults boast two bold breast stripes, a thin black neck band above a broad chestnut-red band across the upper belly. Many populations undertake remarkable non-stop trans-Tasman flights each autumn, wintering across southern Australia and coastal estuaries before returning home to breed.

ShorebirdMigratoryGround-nesting
Double-banded Plover reference
JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAmphipods, Polychaete worms, Chironomid midge larvae
Predators
  • Stoat
  • Feral cat
  • Southern black-backed gull
ThreatsIntroduced mammalian predators, habitat loss from river weed encroachment, and recreational disturbance
HabitatsBraided riverbeds, coastal beaches, estuaries, subalpine plateaus, and tidal mudflats
Life span10–15 years
Classification
  1. FamilyCharadriidae
  2. SpeciesCharadrius bicinctus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a small, active shorebird with a chestnut belly band and black collar running briskly along stony margins.
Support conservation
Keep at least 50 meters away during spring breeding, and never walk vehicles or dogs through river shingle.
Responsible observation
  • Distance: Maintain a wide buffer on gravel beaches and braided riverbeds to avoid crushing camouflaged ground nests.
  • Dog Control: Keep dogs leashed at coastal estuaries and river mouths, especially during spring and summer nesting.
  • Observation: Use binoculars or a spotting scope while birds feed on exposed tidal flats during low tide.
Related species
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