New Zealand dotterel

For other plovers and dotterels of New Zealand, see List of birds of New Zealand § Plovers and lapwings.

New Zealand dotterel

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1] Southern population

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[2] Northern population
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Genus: Anarhynchus
Species:
A. obscurus
Binomial name
Anarhynchus obscurus
(Gmelin, JF, 1789)

The New Zealand plover (Anarhynchus obscurus) is a species of shorebird found only in certain areas of New Zealand. It is also called the New Zealand dotterel or red-breasted dotterel, and its Māori names include tūturiwhatu, pukunui, and kūkuruatu.

There are two subspecies. The southern subspecies is critically endangered and was nearing extinction with about 75 individuals remaining in 1990. Conservation measures increased this to 250 by 2005, but a further decline has occurred since 2012 to an estimated 101 individuals in 2024.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2018) [amended version of 2017 assessment]. "Charadrius obscurus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T62290750A126893184. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T62290750A126893184.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. ^ BirdLife International (2022). "Charadrius aquilonius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T62291168A217256873. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T62291168A217256873.en. Retrieved 1 June 2024.