Photo: JJ Harrison / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Plains-wanderer
Pedionomus torquatus
Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.
Found across 5 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) is a member of the Pedionomidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 62.5 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Endangered.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Pedionomidae Plains-wanderer
- Genus Pedionomus
- Species torquatus
Where it lives
Southeastern NT and southwestern QLD to north-central VIC (east-central Australia)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 62.5 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Pedionomidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Plains-wanderer is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Plains-wanderer is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) is a species of bird in the Pedionomidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU se NT and sw QLD to nc VIC (ec Australia).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 62.5 g, with a wing length of about 8.9 cm and a tail of around 2.7 cm.
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 33,000 km² — a relatively restricted global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Plains-wanderer?
The Plains-wanderer is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 62.5 g.
Where does the Plains-wanderer live?
The Plains-wanderer is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU se NT and sw QLD to nc VIC (ec Australia), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the Plains-wanderer belong to?
The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) belongs to the Pedionomidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Plains-wanderer eat?
The Plains-wanderer is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Plains-wanderer migrate?
The Plains-wanderer is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Plains-wanderer endangered?
It is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Endangered species face a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
What sound does the Plains-wanderer make?
1 real field recording of the Plains-wanderer — including its dawn song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Plains-wanderer's range?
The Plains-wanderer has a mapped global range of about 33,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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