dotterel
/ˈdɒt(ə)r(ə)l
/noun (plural same or dotterels)
1A small plover with a brown streaked back and a chestnut or buff belly with black below, breeding in mountainous areas and in the tundra.
- Genus Eudromias, family Charadriidae: two species.
- Overgrazing on upland pastures is causing the decline of native species including skylarks, curlews and dotterels.
- On the other hand, species like the dotterel and snow bunting look set to head northwards, leaving British shores for colder climes.
1.1 [with modifier] Australian /NZ Any small plover, especially one of the genus Charadrius.He told me with great delight that two dotterels and their chick were further up the beach....
- I saw three dotterels the other weekend.
- The decline of the New Zealand dotterel is due to several factors, but in particular, introduced predators such as cats, stoats and ferrets.
Origin
Middle English: from dote (so named because it is easily caught) + -rel. Compare with dodo.
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