Tawny-throated Dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis)

Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae

The Tawny-throated Dotterel is a medium-sized shorebird with a distinctive tawny-orange throat and breast, contrasting with its grayish-brown upperparts and white belly. It is found across open grasslands and steppes of Patagonia and other southern regions of South America. This species is often seen in small groups, walking upright with a stately gait as it forages on the ground. Its cryptic plumage helps it blend into the dry, grassy landscapes it inhabits. During the austral winter, some populations migrate northward, reaching as far as central Brazil. The Tawny-throated Dotterel is admired for its elegant appearance and adaptability to harsh, windswept environments.

Habitat

Open grasslands, Patagonian steppe, and sometimes agricultural fields across southern South America.

Foraging

Feeds mainly on insects, seeds, and small invertebrates, gleaning food from the ground while walking methodically.

Tawny-throated Dotterel

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