Dotterel Size !

[annmaria]

I am trying to work out the correct size of a Dotterel, my book says they are a couple of cm smaller than a Blackbird ......but are they stockier
If any one has info or a photo which gives some sort of scale it would be a big help.
Actually since I have been gathering info on this bird its really grown on me
Thanks
Annmaria

[Rob_D]

Hi Annmaria. Having only seen them a few times when they pass here on migration, my impression was that they are abit bigger than a blackbird, but then they weren't with anything to compare them too! I was surprised to find out they were smaller (or at least not as long). Never got a shot because they were always too distant.

BTO site says for Dotterel
Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 60 cm Weight: M/F: 110 g

and for Blackbird

Length: 24 cm Wingspan: 36 cm Weight: M/F: 100 g

Dotterel wings nearly reach the end of their tail unlike the blackbird, so maybe that makes them look bigger than they are. I think dotterel seem abit "taller" too because they have longer legs.

[MagpieMick]

Hello Annmaria,

Hope this is of some help from my Gallery...
I have more archived if you need some more...
This image shows it looking quite slender while others i have show it on the plump side....



Mick..

[Morph]

Here's a few in differing poses with a sheep to give a little perspective, these were taken on Pendle Hill early May this year. Noticed your from Lancs so if you fancy a hike next spring why not go up, they're not at all shy so Binos and a camera should be all you'll need to carry (I dragged a scope up nearly killed me and didn,t need it).

[annmaria]

Originally Posted by Rob_D

Hi Annmaria. Having only seen them a few times when they pass here on migration, my impression was that they are abit bigger than a blackbird, but then they weren't with anything to compare them too! I was surprised to find out they were smaller (or at least not as long). Never got a shot because they were always too distant.

BTO site says for Dotterel
Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 60 cm Weight: M/F: 110 g

and for Blackbird

Length: 24 cm Wingspan: 36 cm Weight: M/F: 100 g

Dotterel wings nearly reach the end of their tail unlike the blackbird, so maybe that makes them look bigger than they are. I think dotterel seem abit "taller" too because they have longer legs.

Thank you very much Rob all this information is a great help....I have never seen them but I was getting the impression they must be bigger looking than a blackbird somehow.Bird measurements can mislead me often
Cheers
Annmaria

[annmaria]

Originally Posted by MagpieMick

Hello Annmaria,

Hope this is of some help from my Gallery...
I have more archived if you need some more...
This image shows it looking quite slender while others i have show it on the plump side....



Mick..

\
This picture is one of two impressions I have in my minds eye it is either plump or slender....very confusing !
Thanks Annmaria

[annmaria]

Originally Posted by Morph

Here's a few in differing poses with a sheep to give a little perspective, these were taken on Pendle Hill early May this year. Noticed your from Lancs so if you fancy a hike next spring why not go up, they're not at all shy so Binos and a camera should be all you'll need to carry (I dragged a scope up nearly killed me and didn,t need it).

Hi Morph, the chap I am trying to sculpt this for is Dotty about the Dotterels on Pendle so your pic is spot on and the sheep helps with scale a lot thankyou
This is what I love about this site everyone is very generous with helping each other .
Thanks again
Annmaria

[Morph]

Anytime, just glad to be of help.

[Tursiops2]

Originally Posted by annmaria

Thank you very much Rob all this information is a great help....I have never seen them but I was getting the impression they must be bigger looking than a blackbird somehow.Bird measurements can mislead me often
Cheers
Annmaria

That's quite understandable, Annmaria. I believe the measurements are usually taken from dead birds lying flat and stretched out, so live birds will appear much shorter. I've only ever seen one Dotterel, a juvenile this autumn at Landguard. It was just sitting alone hunched up against the wind on a shingle bank, so very difficult to get a sense of scale, but I would have said it was a bit bigger than a Blackbird.

To get an idea of the build, Ringed Plover and Lapwing are part of the same family, you should be able to find some in your area to refer to.

HTH
T2

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Morph

Here's a few in differing poses with a sheep to give a little perspective, these were taken on Pendle Hill early May this year. Noticed your from Lancs so if you fancy a hike next spring why not go up, they're not at all shy so Binos and a camera should be all you'll need to carry (I dragged a scope up nearly killed me and didn,t need it).

It's a good heads up this from Morph. Dotterel on Pendle are wonderful subjects and very confiding. If you fancy a more challenging walk to see them, try Ingleborough, another reliable summit.

Regards, Chris