Photo: Ed Dunens / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Least Concern

Shorebirds

Red-kneed Dotterel

Erythrogonys cinctus

Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Australia & Oceania.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 19 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Australia Birds of Indonesia Birds of New Zealand Birds of Australian Capital Territory Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria

By family

Plovers of Australia Plovers of Indonesia Plovers of New Zealand Plovers of New South Wales Plovers of Northern Territory Plovers of Queensland Plovers of South Australia Plovers of Tasmania Plovers of Victoria

See what's near you right now

The Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Australia & Oceania. Adults weigh 51.4 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Plovers
Genus Erythrogonys
Species cinctus

Where it lives

Australia (except south-central, Tasmania)

Australia & Oceania

Quick facts

Weight: 51.4 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Vulnerable

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Red-kneed Dotterel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Red-kneed Dotterel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

The Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) is a member of the Charadriidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Australia & Oceania. Its distribution covers AU Australia (except sc, Tasmania).

It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 51.4 g, with a wing length of about 11 cm and a tail of around 4.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 5.1 million km².

Songs & calls

Red-kneed Dotterel — Flight call

Recorded by Marc Anderson Licence: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Red-kneed Dotterel?

The Red-kneed Dotterel is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 51.4 g.

Where does the Red-kneed Dotterel live?

The Red-kneed Dotterel is found across Australia & Oceania with a range covering AU Australia (except sc, Tasmania), where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.

What family does the Red-kneed Dotterel belong to?

The Red-kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Red-kneed Dotterel eat?

The Red-kneed Dotterel hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Red-kneed Dotterel migrate?

The Red-kneed Dotterel is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.

Is the Red-kneed Dotterel endangered?

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

What sound does the Red-kneed Dotterel make?

1 real field recording of the Red-kneed Dotterel — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Red-kneed Dotterel's range?

The Red-kneed Dotterel has a mapped global range of about 5.1 million km².