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BREEDING TERRITORIES, NESTING AND THE TIMING OF BREEDING OF THE DOUBLE-BANDED PLOVER Charadrius bicinctus


The breeding of Double-banded Plovers Charadrius bicinctus was examined at the Cass River Delta and Kaitorete Spit in Canterbury, New Zealand. Breeding territories were mapped and the mean distance between nests was similar at both localities. Of the nests found, 80 per cent were on vegetated shingle. Laying began in mid-August and reached a peak in early October. The nest site. nest materials, and size and colouration of the eggs are described. The median clutch size was three and the average clutch size was 2.81. The adaptive significance of some of these aspects of the breeding is discussed, and compared with Charadrius species that breed in Australia.

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