Widespread winter visitor, mainly to coasts. Lacks wing-bar, has barred tail and white Von back. A t rest. stockier than Black-tailed. with shorter legs. and shorter. more upturned bill. Breeding male as chestnut-red head, neck and underparts; mantle and scapulars are more uniformly streaked than Black - tailed. Breeding female has pale chestnut underparts. although many as non - breeding. Non-breeding has dark streaking on breast and streaked appearance to upperparts. Juvenile similar to non-breeding, but with buff wash to underparts and buff edges to mantle/scapulars. Habits similar to Black-tailed but often feeds in shallower water. Estuaries, lagoons and saltpans.
Colour
WhiteBlack
Average size
39 cm
Habitat
Juvenile similar to non-breeding, but with buff wash to underparts and buff edges to mantle/scapulars. Habits similar to Black-tailed but often feeds in shallower water. Estuaries, lagoons and saltpans.
Behaviour
Widespread winter visitor, mainly to coasts., as chestnut-red head, neck and underparts, mantle and scapulars are more uniformly streaked than Black - tailed. Breeding female has pale chestnut underparts. although many as non - breeding. Non-breeding has dark streaking on breast and streaked appearance to upperparts.
About this bird
Widespread winter visitor, mainly to coasts. Lacks wing-bar, has barred tail and white Von back. A t rest. stockier than Black-tailed. with shorter legs. and shorter. more upturned bill. Breeding male as chestnut-red head, neck and underparts; mantle and scapulars are more uniformly streaked than Black - tailed. Breeding female has pale chestnut underparts. although many as non - breeding. Non-breeding has dark streaking on breast and streaked appearance to upperparts. Juvenile similar to non-breeding, but with buff wash to underparts and buff edges to mantle/scapulars. Habits similar to Black-tailed but often feeds in shallower water. Estuaries, lagoons and saltpans.
Compare size with other birds
Every bird sits between two neighbours — bigger than one, smaller than the other. The sentences below are generated live from the database.