Shore plover

Description

The shore plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae),also known as the shore dotterel or by its Māori name of tuturuatu,is a small plover endemic to New Zealand.Once found all around the New Zealand coast,it is now restricted to a few offshore islands.It is one of the world's rarest shorebirds: the population is roughly 200.Thinornis novaeseelandiae is brown above and white below,with a black (male) or brown (female) mask.There is a distinctive white strip circling its head below its brown skullcap.Its legs and dark-tipped bill are orange,brighter in males.