Zonibyx modestus
The Rufous-chested Dotterel, *Zonibyx modestus*, is a striking medium-sized plover, measuring 19-22 cm (7.5-8.7 in) in length with a wingspan of 38-42 cm (15-16.5 in) and weighing 46-75 g (1.6-2.6 oz). Its most distinctive feature in breeding plumage is the rich rufous chest, bordered above by a prominent black breast band, contrasting with a white belly. The head is grey, adorned with a bright white supercilium and a dark lore extending into an eye-stripe. Upperparts are uniformly dark brown...
Found in open, often barren environments ranging from high Andean grasslands and Patagonian steppes to coastal tundras, gravelly beaches, and mudflats at sea level.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on beetles, flies, larvae, and other terrestrial invertebrates, supplemented with small crustaceans, marine worms, and mollusks in coastal areas.
This diurnal plover employs the classic 'run-and-pause' foraging strategy, visually searching for prey on open ground. During the breeding season, it is highly territorial, with males performing elaborate aerial displays and ground rituals to attract mates. They are typically monogamous, with pai...
The Rufous-chested Dotterel is endemic to southern South America and the Falkland Islands/Malvinas. Its breeding range encompasses the southern Andes of Chile and Argentina, extending across the Patagonian steppes and into Tierra del Fuego, as well as the sub-Antarctic Falkland Islands. Following...
Least Concern
- This plover breeds at astounding elevations, up to 4000 meters (13,000 feet) in the Andes Mountains, before migrating to sea-level coastal plains for winter. - Its common name, 'Dotterel,' refers to its often confiding nature, a trait that sometimes makes them seem easily approached or 'dotty. ...