Behavior

Characterized by being shy, especially in areas where it was subject to hunting pressure in the past, the behavior of the Tawny-throated Dotterel has been little studied. Its upright posture is characteristic, although in the presence of threats it may lie down completely to try to pass unnoticed or may even resort to a broken wing display as a method of distraction. It is social in the nonbreeding season, where it also forms mixed flocks in foraging areas. Some of these behaviors are described below.

Walking

This species exhibits straight, short, explosive movements, shrinking his neck slightly and leaning forward to balance while running. Once it stops, it returns to an upright position. It will sometimes move its body in a movement that can either be described as rocking back and forth a couple of times, or bobbing, before making another run.

Flight

It uses short flights to move larger distances across grasslands or when it feels threatened. Before taking flight, it makes a short run and then keeps a fast and low flight without too much flapping, alternating it with gliding with folded wings. When migrating, the flight is fast, high, and direct (78 Alfaro, M., and A. B. Azpiroz (2017). Chorlo Cabezón (Oreophollus ruficollis ruficollis). In Libro Rojo de las Aves del Uruguay. Biología y conservación de las aves en peligro de extinción a nivel nacional (A. B. Azpiroz, S. Jiménez, and M. Alfaro, Editors), DINAMA y DINARA, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pp. 131–141. Close ). It flies in more or less compact groups (55 Peña, L. (1961). Results of research in the Antofagasta ranges of Chile and Bolivia. I. Birds. Explorations in the Antofagasta range, with observations on the fauna and flora. Postilla 49:3–42. Close )

Swimming and Diving

As far as it is described, it does not enter into the water.

Preening, Head-Scratching, Stretching, Sunbathing, Bathing, Anting, etc

Information is needed.

Sleeping

Information is needed.

Daily Time Budget

Information is needed. Their large eyes appear to be an adaptation for a nocturnal life (9 Goodall, J. D., A. W. Johnson, and R. A. Phillipi (1951). Las Aves de Chile: su Conocimiento y sus Costumbres. Platt Establecimientos Gráficos, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Close ), but information on its nocturnal behavior, if present, is lacking.

Physical and Communicative Interactions

Information is needed.

Territorial Behavior

In mid-August, flight displays have been noted in feeding flocks (18 Johnsgard, P. A. (1981). The Plovers, Sandpipers and Snipes of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, USA, and London, UK. Close ). In contrast to most plovers, this species seems does not seem to be very aggressive, with wintering birds feeding in loose flocks and apparently not establishing foraging territories (106 Myers, J. P., and L. P. Myers (1979). Shorebirds of coastal Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Ibis 121:186–200. Close in 18 Johnsgard, P. A. (1981). The Plovers, Sandpipers and Snipes of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, USA, and London, UK. Close ).

Information is needed.

Degree of Sociality

While it occurs alone or in pairs during the breeding season, it stays in flocks outside the breeding season (6 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ). During nonbreeding season, it typically occurs in flocks of 10–30 birds in the coastal zone and Andean foothills of Chile, and even larger flocks have been seen migrating over Isla Grande (Tierra del Fuego) in March and April (18 Johnsgard, P. A. (1981). The Plovers, Sandpipers and Snipes of the World. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, USA, and London, UK. Close ) and on the nonbreeding grounds in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, with a high count of 238 recorded at Medaland Ranch (73 Isacch, J. P., and M. M. Martínez (2003). Temporal variation in abundance and the population status of non-breeding Nearctic and Patagonian shorebirds in the flooding pampa grasslands of Argentina. Journal of Field Ornithology 74(3):233–242. Close ).

It is often associated with other species during the nonbreeding season that share its habitat, including the Chocolate-vented Tyrant (Neoxolmis rufiventris) (78 Alfaro, M., and A. B. Azpiroz (2017). Chorlo Cabezón (Oreophollus ruficollis ruficollis). In Libro Rojo de las Aves del Uruguay. Biología y conservación de las aves en peligro de extinción a nivel nacional (A. B. Azpiroz, S. Jiménez, and M. Alfaro, Editors), DINAMA y DINARA, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pp. 131–141. Close ; Robertson in eBird), Rufous-chested Dotterel (Zonibyx modestus) (Chiurla in eBird), Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) (Gonzalez in eBird), and the Least Seedsnipe (Thinocorus rumicivorus) (107 Venzal, J. M., A. Stagi, J. C. Mazulla y M. L. Félix (2011). Chorlos de Pastizal: nuevas observaciones para el norte uruguayo. Achará (2)2:10–13. Close , 78 Alfaro, M., and A. B. Azpiroz (2017). Chorlo Cabezón (Oreophollus ruficollis ruficollis). In Libro Rojo de las Aves del Uruguay. Biología y conservación de las aves en peligro de extinción a nivel nacional (A. B. Azpiroz, S. Jiménez, and M. Alfaro, Editors), DINAMA y DINARA, Montevideo, Uruguay. Pp. 131–141. Close ; Duvieilh in eBird; Chiurla in eBird), and has been observed foraging with the Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant (Muscisaxicola maclovianus) (Piñones in eBird). It has also been observed together with Nearctic species such as the American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) (107 Venzal, J. M., A. Stagi, J. C. Mazulla y M. L. Félix (2011). Chorlos de Pastizal: nuevas observaciones para el norte uruguayo. Achará (2)2:10–13. Close ).

Play

Not documented.

Nonpredatory Interspecific Interactions

In Santa Cruz Province (Argentina), D. Robertson recorded an instance of interspecific aggression, describing it as "a dramatic encounter," in which a Chocolate-vented Tyrant was attacking a Tawny-throated Dotterel, which was either protecting a nest or recently fledged young by means of a broken wing display (Robertson, eBird). Given this observation, it would not be unreasonable to hypothesize that similar interactions may occur in other parts of its range.

Kinds of Predators

In southern Patagonia, adults and young are preyed upon by the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (108 Ellis, D. H., B. A. Sabo, J. K. Fackler, and B. A. Millsap (2002). Prey of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus cassini) in southern Argentina and Chile. Journal of Raptor Research 36(4):315–319. Close ), and chicks can be preyed upon by the Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) (109 Saggese, M. D., and E. R. De Lucca (2001). Biología reproductiva del Águila Mora (Geranoaetus melanoleucus) en la Patagonia sur, Argentina. Hornero 16(2):77–84. Close ). In the Atacama Desert, the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) has been observed attempting to hunt the species (C. Piñones, personal communication).

Manner of Depredation

Information is needed.

Response to Predators

When approached by a potential predator, it stays alert and often bobs or stands between short runs; when further approached, it stands still and becomes very well camouflaged (6 Fjeldså, J., and N. Krabbe (1990). Birds of the High Andes: A Manual to the Birds of the Temperate Zone of the Andes and Patagonia, South America. Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen, and Apollo Books, Copenhagen and Svendborg, Denmark. Close ).