Red-Capped Plover

Red-Capped Plover. I first came across two small spotted eggs in a scrape in the sand, at an inland lake, before looking around more closely to find two Red-Capped Plovers watching me from a distance. I moved away from their eggs, capturing this photo, which I was very happy with. 

Physical Appearance

The Red-Capped Plover is a small shorebird, easily recognised by its compact body and short, dark bill and legs. During the breeding season, males develop a distinctive reddish-brown cap and nape, with black markings around the face and upper breast. Females are generally duller, with less prominent markings. Both sexes have white and grey plumage that provides good camouflage against sandy and rocky surroundings.

Habitat

Red-Capped Plovers are found throughout Australia, particularly along the coast, but they are also common around inland wetlands. They inhabit sandy beaches, mudflats, estuaries, saltmarshes and saline wetlands, as well as inland salt lakes and claypans. They generally favour open areas with little vegetation close to water.

Behaviour

Run-stop-peck: One of the most distinctive behaviours of the Red-Capped Plover is the way it searches for food. It rapidly runs across the sand or mud, suddenly stops to peck at something, then quickly continues running. This behaviour allows it to search efficiently for small invertebrates.
Diet: Red-Capped Plovers feed mainly on small invertebrates found on or near the surface of the ground, including insects, worms, molluscs and small crustaceans.
Broken-wing display: When a predator approaches a nest, an adult may perform a remarkable distraction display, appearing to have an injured wing. By drawing the predator away from the nest, the bird can then fly off once the threat is far enough away.
Ground-dwelling: Red-Capped Plovers spend most of their time on the ground, where their muted plumage helps them blend into their surroundings.

Breeding

Nesting: Rather than building a traditional nest, Red-Capped Plovers make a shallow scrape in sand, mud, shell grit or small stones. Their eggs are well camouflaged, helping them blend into the surrounding ground.
Chicks: The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and are able to walk and feed themselves, although they remain under the protection of their parents.
Breeding habitat: Unlike many beach-nesting birds, Red-Capped Plovers can breed in a wide range of habitats, from coastal beaches and estuaries to inland salt lakes and wetlands.