KITTLITZ'S PLOVER
Charadrius pecuarius

Geelborsstrandkiewiet (Afrikaans)

HABITAT
The wide, open shorelines of inland waters, especally shallow brackish temperary pans and short grass areas on flood and coastal plains and areas kept artificially short such as playing and air fields.

TYPE
This is a small plover with longish legs. It is light brown, sometimes mottled with rufous above, white below with yellowish buff on the breast. The forehead is white bordered black on the forecrown to the eye, white stripe from the top of the eye to the hindneck, broad black stripe from the base of the bill through the eye to the side of the neck and across the mantle. The eyes are dark brown, the bill black and the legs and feet are dark grey-black.

BREEDING
They nest from May to October in KwaZulu-Natal, making a deep scrape in the groung or using a depression such as a hoofprint. It is lined with small stones and bits of plant and is positioned on an exposed shoreline or short grass field. They are often loosly colonial nesters. There are usually two eggs which are coloured creamy to yellowish white covered with thin black lines and speckles.

FOOD
Insects, crustaceans, molluscs and worms

STATUS
A common resident which is largely nomadic depending on the availability of suitable habitat.