Double-banded plover

A 2015 study by Phylogenetics and Evolution found its closest relatives to be two other plovers found in New Zealand, the New Zealand dotterel (Anarhynchus obscurus, also called the New Zealand plover) and the wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis, which the study found to be in the Charadrius clade). ==Description==

The double-banded plover is distinguished by a dark, grey-brown back with a distinctive white chest and a thin band of black situated just below the neck running across the chest along with a larger brown band underneath. The double-banded plover's head is prominent with large, dark-brown eyes and a sturdy black bill. Due to similar colors within the plovers ideal habitat, spotting these birds can be difficult to achieve, however the "chirp-chirp" call is easily heard and their habit of running quickly then pausing to feed on food can catch the eye of observers. == Distribution and habitat ==

Distribution of the banded dotterel varies seasonally. They are at their breeding grounds, which are entirely in New Zealand, from roughly August to November. Many move to coastal locations in New Zealand in the immediate post-breeding season (roughly December to March). A large proportion of the population migrates to Australia in autumn and winter (roughly April to July). Small numbers breed in higher altitude areas such as Tongariro National Park and subalpine areas of Central Otago. Dotterels that nest near coastal wintering grounds may move only a few kilometres. Vagrant birds reach New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Birds in the southern parts of New Zealand, such as Stewart Island, prefer to breed on unprotected subalpine and stony areas, but become coastal during off-breeding months where they feed around the beach areas. The first fossil record of Charadrius bicinctus was found in rock shelter called Te Waka #1, 900 m above sea level in inland Hawke's Bay, North Island, New Zealand. ==Behaviour==

Breeding collection Banded dotterels start returning to North Island breeding areas in June–July and to inland Canterbury areas in August–September. During this time, the male grows colored bands on his chest prior to the beginning of the breeding season and later females are attracted by the loud calls of the male where they are then presented with several nests which they can choose between while the male puts on a defensive display, protecting his territory, where it flies towards any possible intruder in a fast butterfly-like circular motion flight. There can be several hundred birds in one area during this season. From August to September, the dotterels lay two to four eggs and can re-lay up to three times if there is a failure or predation. Incubation of these eggs generally takes 28–30 days where the young fledging period extends to around six weeks. At the slimmest indication of potential danger, watchful adult birds sound the alarm causing the chicks to run a few feet in a scattered motion then squat with their legs doubled over beneath them and their head stretched out firmly against the ground in front of them, camouflaging into the coastal terrain around them. They remain stationed without moving until the parents decide the surrounding environment is clear and safe to move again. Unlike the young of most bird species, these chicks will be reliant to feed themselves with parents guarding close by for five to six weeks until they fledge. The parents will then stay close by for several days until the chicks join flocks and become fully independent. The birds forage both in daytime and at night, using different techniques for each. During the night, double-banded plovers were noted to have a repeated pecking techniques and spent a lot more time waiting in one area, suggesting that they were trying to use the nearby vicinity to catch prey in, due to the fact that prey detection distances would have been significantly reduced in lack of light. This reduction of paces during the night causes prey to find it more difficult to detect the stilled birds, which increases the ability of the plovers to detect their prey and decreases the chance that prey could be unnoticed. Birds located on breeding grounds were commonly found to have a more varied diet containing insect larvae, spiders, beetles, aquatic insects such as caddisflies, stoneflies and mayflies along with terrestrial flies. The contents of various fecal samples from plovers included flies, adult beetles and bugs. Birds on Canterbury riverbeds consume large amounts of fruits of Coprosma petrei and Mueblenbeckia axillaris. ==Predators, parasites and diseases==

As a ground-nesting bird, many dangers arise through predation by mammalian predators that were introduced to New Zealand, human impacts that can cause habitat loss and various parasites that can target these birds. A study of nesting sites in braided rivers in the Mackenzie Basin in the 1990s found that predation, mainly of eggs, occurred at about half the nests. Feral cats were the most common predator of eggs there, followed by hedgehogs and ferrets, and to much lesser extent, stoats. Cats also killed adult birds and chicks. Other animals such as farm stock and uncontrolled dogs moving through nesting areas pose a threat to the nesting birds by crushing eggs and disturbing nesting birds. Feather mites (Brephosceles constrictus) can pose a threat to the health of these birds as they feed predominantly on the blood of the bird along with feathers, skin or scales taking up to two hours. This can lead to increased levels of stress resulting in anemia, decreased egg production and in some cases, death. == Hunting and conservation ==

Prior to 1908, banded dotterels in New Zealand were shot in large numbers by market gunners upon the return of migrating birds for breeding. In 1908, the species was placed on the protected list, prohibiting further shooting, to the point where they are now moderately common. This species has the conservation status of "Regionally Vulnerable" in the Wellington region. The species is classified as Near Threatened. File:NZBirds3.JPG|A double-banded plover nest File:NZBirds4.JPG|Double-banded plover eggs == Videos ==

Image:Double-banded Plover (summer).ogg|August, SE Queensland, Australia Image:Double-banded Plover (winter).ogg|April, SE Queensland, Australia ==References==