Wild Bird Wednesday 702 - Red-kneed Dotterel

The Red-Kneed Dotterel (Erythrogonys cinctus) is a small colourful, plump wader with relatively long legs. Technically it does not really have red knees, as the part of the leg that is red is actually its ankle (anatomically). 

This bird is the only species in the genus Erythrogonys and basically you have to come to Australia to see one.  There are records from New Zealand and PNG, but it's probably best to consider this bird an Australian Endemic.

This bird was feeding at Werribee, and I thought it had caught a worm of some form.  But on closer inspection of the pictures I think it was a piece of vegetation that it picked up and then rejected.

There is little doubt that this is an attractive, and distinctive species. 

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Cheers - SM

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