Red-capped Plover

Red-capped Plovers have white underparts and forehead. Their upperparts are mainly grey-brown. Adult males have a rufous crown and hindneck. Adult females have a paler rufous and grey brown crown and hindneck, with pale loral stripe. The upperwing of Charadrius ruficapillus shows dark brown remiges and primary coverts with a white wingbar in flight. Its length is 14-16 cm and its wingspan is 27-34 cm; weight 35-40 g.

The Red-capped Plover is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

Red-capped Plover at nest. Red-capped Plover at nest. Photo: Purnell Collection © Australian Museum Red-capped Plover. Red-capped Plover. More

Red-capped Plovers have white underparts and forehead. Their upperparts are mainly grey-brown. Adult males have a rufous crown and hindneck. Adult females have a paler rufous and grey brown crown and hindneck, with pale loral stripe. The upperwing of Charadrius ruficapillus shows dark brown remiges and primary coverts with a white wingbar in flight. Its length is 14-16 cm and its wingspan is 27-34 cm; weight 35-40 g. More

Red-capped Plovers are one of the smallest waders that we see around here. They are an Australian wader and are here all year round. They make a shallow depression in the sand just above high tide mark for their nest. Because they are so small they are very hard to see out on the sand. Often I hear their piping cry before I see them. A photo as close as this is always great. More

It looks smaller than the Red-capped Plover as it is usually hunched over a little. The little Red-capped Plover is always curious and will often walk closer to get a better look at you, while the Red-necked Stint simply gets on with the very important business of finding food. In the next photo the Red-capped Plover is on the right of the photo and the Red-necked Stint on the left. I walked closer very slowly and made no sudden movements. More

Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) Male Filmed at Manly SE Qld Sept 1999 using Canon EX1 Hi8 & Sigma 400mm lens. Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) Male Filmed at Manly SE Qld Sept 1999 using Canon EX1 Hi8 & Sigma 400mm lens.all » Red-capped Plover (Charadrius ruficapillus) Male Filmed at Manly SE Qld Sept 1999 using Canon EX1 Hi8 & Sigma 400mm lens.« Download video - iPod/PSPDownload is starting. Save file to your computer. If the download does not start automatically, right-click this link and choose "Save As". More

I think Red-capped Plovers have ADD (Attention deficit disorder). They just cannot keep still. Their miniature legs pump up and down like tiny pistons as they scurry over the sand searching for a tasty morsel. The funny thing is how they power walk for a metre or two then stop, then go, then stop again. More

Red-capped PloverHabitat Coastal estuaries, bays, beaches, sandflats and mudflats; inland saline wetlands. Food Mainly small invertebrates, especially molluscs, crustaceans and worms. Breeding Nests on ground in vicinity of wetlands; nest a small depression with no minimal lining. Clutch of 2 pale yellowish-brown eggs, irregularly spotted black. More

The adult male Red-capped Plover has a bright reddish chestnut crown (centre of crown can be grey brown) and nape, and grey brown mantle. There is a black incomplete band running down from the chestnut nape to the sides of the breast and a black line from the bill through and past the eye. The legs and short fine bill are black. In flight there is a clear white wing bar and white outer tail.The female is duller in colour, missing the dark breast patches. More

This cute little shorebird (a male Red-capped Plover) was seen enjoying the sand bars of Merimbula Lake, on the NSW Far South Coast. Captured with a Canon EOS500D with a 150-500 @ 500 handheld. Steve is the Principal Ecologist at EnviroKey, a specialist ecological consultancy that undertakes surveys, research and education programs across Australia. More

The diet of the Red-capped Plover consists of small invertebrates, particularly mollusks, crustaceans, and worms. This bird nests on the ground near wetlands. The nest is a small depression with minimal lining. The female lays 2 pale yellow-brown eggs that are irregularly spotted black. Incubation lasts 30 days and is done mainly by the female. The young are precocial (able to move about freely at birth), and leave the nest soon after. More