Bird GuidePloversEurasian Dotterel
Eurasian Dotterel
Charadrius morinellus

At a Glance

Across northern Europe and Asia, this beautiful small plover nests on high, dry tundra, and it has been found nesting a few times on similar terrain in western Alaska. Strays have been found very rarely south of Alaska on the Pacific Coast in fall.
Category
Plovers, Sandpiper-like Birds
Conservation
Low Concern
Habitat
Tundra and Boreal Habitats
Region
Alaska and The North
Behavior
Direct Flight, Rapid Wingbeats, Running

Range & Identification

Description

8-9" (20-23 cm). In breeding plumage, has narrow white band across gray chest; belly cinnamon and black; bold white eyebrow. Females brighter than males. Young birds and winter adults lack bright colors but show hint of summer pattern on chest, face.
Size
About the size of a Crow, About the size of a Robin
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, Red, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Pointed, Tapered
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped, Wedge-shaped

Songs and Calls

A soft pip-pip or pip-pip-pip.
Call Pattern
Falling, Flat, Rising
Call Type
Chirp/Chip, Trill