Northern New Zealand dotterel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charadrius obscurus aquilonius |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Charadriiformes |
| Family: | Charadriidae |
| Genus: | Charadrius |
| Species: |
C. obscurus
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| Subspecies: |
C. o. aquilonius
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| Trinomial name | |
| Charadrius obscurus aquilonius Dowding, 1994
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The northern New Zealand dotterel is a special shorebird that lives only in New Zealand. It's also called the northern red-breasted plover. These birds make their nests and raise their young on the sandy beaches of New Zealand's North Island.
About This Bird
The northern New Zealand dotterel was first officially described in 1994. Scientists decided it was a special type, or subspecies, of the New Zealand dotterel. The first official example of this bird was collected near Auckland Airport in 1967. This bird, an adult male, is now kept at the Auckland Institute and Museum.
Scientists like those from the Clements Checklist of Birds of the World and the International Ornithologists' Union agree it's a subspecies. Its scientific name is Charadrius obscurus aquilonius. The word aquilonius comes from a Latin word meaning "north wind." This name was chosen because this bird lives in the northern parts of New Zealand.
What Does It Look Like?
This bird belongs to a group of wading birds called plovers. It is about 25 centimetres (10 inches) long, making it the largest plover in its group. Its back feathers are mostly brown with pale edges. Its belly is pale or whitish.
During the breeding season, the belly gets a reddish color. Male birds have a red chest all year round. Their legs are a light grey, and their beak is black. Their eyes are a dark brown color.
When these birds are protecting their territory, they make a loud "churring" sound. This sound is often heard and helps them communicate.
Where Does It Live?
The northern New Zealand dotterel is a bird found only in New Zealand. It mostly breeds on the eastern coast of the North Island. You can also find smaller groups of these birds nesting on the western coast.
Protecting This Bird
The northern New Zealand dotterel faces several dangers. The biggest threat comes from animals that were brought to New Zealand by people. These include cats, stoats, and hedgehogs. These animals can attack nests and eat the eggs or young birds. In areas where these predators are not controlled, they cause about 60% of nest losses.
Other threats include building new recreational areas on beaches. Also, some chemicals used to control pests can harm the birds. Weeds that take over their habitat and strong storms can also be a problem.
Even with these threats, the number of northern New Zealand dotterels has been growing. This is thanks to many conservation efforts. In 2016, there were about 1600 of these birds.
In one area, Tawharanui Regional Park, a chemical was used to control rats and possums. After this, about half of the local dotterel population disappeared or died. Scientists found that the chemical built up in small insects called sandhoppers, which the dotterels eat. A dead bird also showed high levels of this chemical.
The IUCN lists the northern New Zealand dotterel as "Near Threatened". This means it is not in immediate danger, but its population needs to be watched carefully.
