Black-fronted Dotterel

1. Distinctive black 'Y'-shaped marking on chest, standing out against white plumage

2. Bold black stripe through eye, extending to back of neck

3. Bright red eye-ring

Black-fronted dotterels breed from August to March, creating simple nests on open ground near water. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for chicks, often using distraction displays to protect their young. They face threats from habitat disturbance and predators, particularly during breeding season. Young chicks are well camouflaged with speckled white and dark grey feathers and vigilant parental behaviour helps them survive in exposed environments.

Look for black-fronted dotterels along the edges of freshwater bodies throughout eastern regions of both North and South Islands. They prefer open, gravelly areas near slow-moving streams, rivers, and lake edges. Dawn and dusk are ideal times to spot them foraging at the water's edge. Check places like the Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and Canterbury Plains. Tip: Watch for their characteristic stop-start running motion as they search for food.

First recorded in New Zealand in 1954, black-fronted dotterels. While they don't have a traditional Māori name or significant cultural role, their arrival represents a natural expansion of Australasian birdlife into New Zealand, enriching wetland ecosystems.