Black-fronted Dotterel

Elseyornis melanops, the Black-fronted Dotterel, is a diminutive native wader of freshwater wetlands. (Joseph Elsey was an English born naturalist who named several previously unknown birds during an expedition in 1855. ‘Elseynoris’ = Elsey’s bird. ‘Melanops’ = black face). The name ‘dotterel’ has origins that are confusingly ambiguous and to add misunderstanding, is sometimes used synonymously with ‘plover’.

BF Dotterel in unusually deep water

The Black-fronted Dotterel is a widespread bird found principally on the muddy, sandy or gravelly shorelines of dams, creeks, lakes and swamps, but rarely on tidal flats and estuaries. Much of its habitat is ephemeral and consequently many of the birds are quite nomadic.

BF Dotterel & E Coot

It seems to avoid dense vegetation and seldom wades in water more than a few millimetres deep. Black-fronted Dotterels are not particularly communal and most observations are of single birds or perhaps two or three.

The Black-fronted Dotterel feeds on seeds and aquatic insects and crustaceans it finds by dashing about in short sprints. The nest is generally just a small depression in the ground. On hot days, the parent bird will often shade the eggs by standing over them and sometimes wetting their feathers to help cool things down.

In our district, we also sometimes get the very similar Red-kneed Dotterel, Elseyornis cinctus. Red-kneed Dotterels tend to wade more deeply, and usually are present in small parties. It is a more ‘robust’ bird and has a longer bill. The broad breast band and all-black head help distinguish it. Oh, and the upper legs are a pinky red colour.

RK Dotterel