Also known as the Hooded Plover or Hoody.
This Australian bird averages 21cm (adult) in length and weighs 95g. It lives on sandy beaches between Jervis Bay, New South Wales and the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, as well as in Tasmania and between Esperance and Perth in south-west Western Australia.They are not abundant.
In Victoria, the highest densities of Hooded Plovers occur on beaches with large amounts of beach-washed seaweed. Densities are lowest on narrow, steep beaches, where there are few or no dunes, and where human activities are most intensive. In the south-west, they also occur on inland salt lakes. Thinornis rubricollis is listed as Endangered in Victoria and NSW. They Vulnerable or Not Present in other states and Secure in WA and Tasmania.
The Hooded Plover is non-migratory.
It eats insects, sandhoppers, small bivalves and soldier crabs. The nest is a shallow scrape in beach sand or fine gravel above the high-tide mark. This nest may be encircled or lined with pebbles, seaweed and other beach debris.
The call of the Hooded Plover is quiet and piping. It also has a chook-chook call.
[All text: Ref (108)]
No comments:
Post a Comment