Notornis, 19 (1), 33-35
Article Type: Paper
The banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus) is a short-distance migrant, breeding in New Zealand and wintering in some numbers in Australia. This study was done to check the hypothesis that the flight feathers are renewed before autumn migration and to determine the timing of the body moult. It is concluded that the flight feathers are renewed on or near the breeding grounds coinciding with the pre-basic body moult which is complete. The pre-alternate moult occurs on the wintering grounds and is incomplete, involving the body feathers only. A comparative table is given showing sequence of plumages.