Diet and Foraging

Main Foods Taken

The Tawny-throated Dotterel feeds primarily on invertebrates (95 Fiora, A. (1939). Distribución geográfica de las especies de aves capturadas en la provincia de Jujuy y zonas limítrofes. Physis 16:272–289. Close ), including beetles (Escarabacidae, Curculionidae; 96 Zotta, A. (1934). Sobre el contenido estomacal de aves argentinas. Hornero 5:376–383. Close , 97 Zotta, A. R. (1940). Lista sobre el contenido estomacal de las aves argentinas. Hornero 7:402–411. Close , 98 Olrog, C. C. (1956). Contenidos estomacales de aves del noroeste argentino. El Hornero 10(2):158–163. Close , 99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close , 100 de la Peña, M. R., and S. A. Salvador (2010). Manual de la alimentación de las aves Argentinas. UNL (Digital) Close ), flies (96 Zotta, A. (1934). Sobre el contenido estomacal de aves argentinas. Hornero 5:376–383. Close ), hymenopterans (96 Zotta, A. (1934). Sobre el contenido estomacal de aves argentinas. Hornero 5:376–383. Close ), butterflies/moths (96 Zotta, A. (1934). Sobre el contenido estomacal de aves argentinas. Hornero 5:376–383. Close , 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 , 100 de la Peña, M. R., and S. A. Salvador (2010). Manual de la alimentación de las aves Argentinas. UNL (Digital) Close ), earthworms (97 Zotta, A. R. (1940). Lista sobre el contenido estomacal de las aves argentinas. Hornero 7:402–411. Close , 100 de la Peña, M. R., and S. A. Salvador (2010). Manual de la alimentación de las aves Argentinas. UNL (Digital) Close ), orthopterans (98 Olrog, C. C. (1956). Contenidos estomacales de aves del noroeste argentino. El Hornero 10(2):158–163. Close , 99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close , 101 de la Peña, M. R. (2010). Guía de nidos de aves del Paraguay. Guyra Paraguay/Río Tinto, Asunción, Paraguay. Close ), ants (99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close ), true bugs (100 de la Peña, M. R., and S. A. Salvador (2010). Manual de la alimentación de las aves Argentinas. UNL (Digital) Close ), Isopoda (100 de la Peña, M. R., and S. A. Salvador (2010). Manual de la alimentación de las aves Argentinas. UNL (Digital) Close ), and spiders (99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close ). It can also take some plant matter (99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close ). It has been documented eating some minerals (97 Zotta, A. R. (1940). Lista sobre el contenido estomacal de las aves argentinas. Hornero 7:402–411. Close ), probably to improve digestion.

Microhabitat for Foraging

Information is needed.

Food Capture and Consumption

Piñones (in eBird), reports that he observed a flock searching for food, and described two feeding techniques: the first was pecking on the substrate surface, and the second was inserting the bill in the ground to extract prey items. While foraging, individuals were noted being very attentive to their surroundings; while some were feeding, others were observed in an upright, attentive position.

Outside breeding season, it often gathers in loose flocks of 10–30 birds, even up to 100, for feeding.

Major Food Items

A wide variety of insects, spiders, and crustaceans have been documented as part of its diet (99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close ).

Quantitative Analysis

In a study from the nonbreeding areas, near Buenos Aires, researchers collected fecal samples and calculated the percent of samples that contained different food items. Food items included beetles (92% of the samples), earthworms (77%), beetle larvae (42%), grasshoppers (35%), spiders (32%), caterpillars (17%), ants (17%), flies (3%), isopoda (2%), as well as seeds (12%) and other plant remains (67%, n = 60 samples; 99 Isacch, J. P., C. A. Darrieu, and M. M. Martínez (2005). Food abundance and dietary relationships among migratory shorebirds using grasslands during the non-breeding season. Waterbirds 28:238–245. Close ).

Information is needed.

Information is needed.

Information is needed.

Information is needed.