Inland Dotterel
Peltohyas australis
IUCN status: Least Concern
Australian population 14 000
Plumage
Adult Plumage: The upperparts are a rich buff that is heavily spotted with black. The white forehead is split from the crown by a black vertical band that joins on the top of the head. The ear coverts are white with a chestnut wash. The chin, throat and breast are white. There is a black band that starts at the white vent crosses the buff belly then splits over the lower breast and flanks to met on the back. The rump is a paler buff. The tail is brown with a pale tip. The short bill is black. The legs light grey
Juvenile: The black of the bandings are indistinct giving a much paler appearance to the bird.
Confusing Species
None
Distribution
Distribution
Endemic wader of arid Australia, mostly found south of the Tropic of Capricorn. It is found in the south-western corner of Queensland, the western areas of New South Wales, western Victoria, eastern South Australia and western Australia.
Migratory habits
Very little is known of this bird’s movements. It is thought to move seasonally and to follow any rains. It congregates in flocks of some hundreds in the non-breeding season, so there is some movement for this to happen.
Breeding
It has been recorded as breeding from October to February and also in April and May. As other inland species it probably responds to rainfall and can raise two broods if conditions are suitable. The three eggs are laid in shallow scrape, sometimes there is a lining.
Recent Sightings in Queensland of Hooded Plover
Recent sightings:
| 2025-09-30 | Diamantina Developmental Rd, Windorah AU-QLD -25.33637, 142.27440 |
| 2025-09-08 | Astrebla Downs National Park, Diamantina Lakes at -24.19333, 140.64754 |
| 2025-09-02 | Bedourie at -23.86457, 140.44441 |
| 2025-08-29 | Diamantina National Park, Diamantina Lakes at -23.89137, 141.1548 |
| 2025-08-21 | Birdsville Simpson Desert National Park Rd, Birdsville AU-QLD -25.91281, 139.17396 |
| 2025-08-17 | Pullen Pullen Reserve (restricted access) |
| 2025-07-30 | Eyre Developmental Road, Bedourie, Queensland, AU (-24.976, 139.644) |
References
- eBird. 2021. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Available: http://www.ebird.org (Accessed: Date 12/4/2026)
- Rogers A, Fuller RA & Amano T (2023) Australia’s migratory shorebirds: Trends and prospects. Report to the National Environmental Science Program. University of Queensland, Brisbane.
- Driessen, J., Kidd, L. R., Weller, D. R., Purnell, C., Maguire, G., Jaensch, R., and LeClair, S. M. (2025). Australian National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat. Report for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. BirdLife Australia, Melbourne.
- https://sproggies63.github.io/birding_apps/