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Red-capped PloverSize: 14-16 cm; wing span 27-34 cm Weight: 35-40 g |
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Similar species |
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SUBSECTIONS:
Classification
Distribution
Sightings
Photos
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
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Taxonomy, classification |
See Red-capped Plover
at Wikipedia 
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
(for details refer to a field guide) |
Click here to display information on habitat,
range and finding this species
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Sightings |
Red-capped Plovers were spotted by us around the edges of a saltmarsh near the mouth of the Manning River, close to Old Bar, NSW, in June 2011 and again in September 2011.
Click here to display more sighting
information
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Photos |
Near-frontal view of a male Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
Lateral view of a male Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage;
click on image to see the bird as part of a small flock
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Lateral view of a male Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage on the
edge of a salt marsh
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
Can you stand like that? Note where the centre of gravity of
the Red-capped Plover's body must be in comparison to the legs
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
Slightly different viewing angle, more from behind
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
Red-capped Plover probing the sand for prey
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
Frontal view of a female Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage
Frontal view of a female Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Near-frontal view of a female Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage
Lateral view of a female Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Near-frontal view of a female moulting into its breeding plumage
Lateral view of a female moulting into its breeding plumage
Lateral view of a female Red-capped Plover in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Dorsal view of a female Red-capped Plover in non-breeding plumage
Three female Red-capped Plovers (photo courtesy of C. Hayne)
Dorsal view of a Red-capped Plover in flight (photo courtesy of R. Druce)
Small flock of Red-capped Plovers just after takeoff
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Size comparison between two Red-capped Plovers (centre & right) and a
Black-fronted Dotterel
(left)
[Goran Lake, NSW, May 2012]
Similar shot of two Red-capped Plovers checking for raptors (centre &
left) and a Black-fronted
Dotterel (right); photo courtesy of C. Hayne
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Behaviour |
Like many other waders, Red-capped Plovers prefer to evade disturbances by running along the waterfront, rather than flying away.
Female Red-capped Plover in breeding plumage, noticing the photographer
with water behind its back
[Near Old Bar, NSW, September 2011]
The Red-capped Plover turned sideways...
[Near Old Bar, NSW, September 2011]
... and walked around the observer along the shore of a saltmarsh
[Near Old Bar, NSW, September 2011]
This Red-capped Plover showed the photographer a clean pair of heels
[Near Old Bar, NSW, September 2011]
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Food, Diet |
Red-capped Plovers dig small animals out of sand, as seen in the photo below.
Red-capped Plover trying to gulp down its prey
[Near Old Bar, NSW, June 2011]
