From Opus

Charadrius falklandicus

Photo by zweiblumen
Location: Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

[edit] Identification

17cm. Two breast black bands although the upper one is sometimes incomplete, white forehead and lores, pale rufous crown and hindneck, duller in the female. Out of the breeding season the black bands become grey and the rufous becomes grey-brown.

[edit] Distribution

Breeds southern Chile, Argentina and Falkland Islands; winters to southern Brazil.

[edit] Taxonomy

A monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Freshwater lakes, salt marshes, rocky shores, sandy shores, estuaries, mud-flats and sandy beaches.

[edit] Behaviour

Nests are made in shallow scrapes in heath or grassland behind the beach. 2-4 eggs are laid from October onwards, and are incubated for 4 weeks.

The diet includes insects and other invertebrates found amongst coastal vegetation, seaweed and rockpools.

[edit] External Links