Red-capped Plover

1. Bright rufous-red crown and nape on males; paler in females and juveniles

2. White forehead and underparts with soft grey-brown upperparts

3. Lacks a complete breast band-only small black patches on the sides

Red-capped Plovers forage by running in short bursts, stopping abruptly to peck at small invertebrates such as molluscs, crustaceans, worms, and insects. They nest on the ground, scraping a shallow depression in sand, gravel, or mud, often close to water but sometimes under low vegetation. The usual clutch is two well-camouflaged eggs. On the coast, breeding is seasonal (July-January), while inland birds breed opportunistically after rain. Incubation lasts about 3 days and is mainly performed by the female. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest soon after hatching, able to feed themselves almost immediately.

Red-capped Plovers are found across most of Australia and Tasmania, frequenting a wide range of habitats. They are common on sandy beaches, estuaries, saltmarshes, mudflats, and saline or brackish inland wetlands. The species is highly adaptable, also appearing around salt lakes, artificial wetlands, and even temporary inland water bodies formed after rain. While generally resident, some individuals move locally in response to changing water conditions, especially after inland rains.