Medium small. Stocky with a short thick neck. Bill curved to right. Sexes similar.
Male: Breeding: Forehead, white with a thin black frontal band. Crown, nape, upperparts, plain ashy-grey. Ashy-grey strip from lores through and behind eye, darker on the lores. Eye, black. Eyering, white. Thin black band on upper breast. Rest of underparts, white. In flight, shows a small, white wingbar, and whites sides to grey rump. Bill, black. Legs, grey-green. Non-breeding: Black frontal band is absent. Breast band is indistinct or absent.
Female: Breeding: Like male but lacks the black frontal band and has a narrower breast band. Non-breeding: Like male.
Juveniles: Like adult but feathers of the back edged white. Always lacks a breast band.
New Zealand: breeds in central South I. Winters in northern North I.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 4,500 - 5,000 (2010) and decreasing.
Status VU
Habitat deteriotion due to encroachment of weed, predation by feral stoats and cats, gulls are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Habits
In pairs during breeding season, in flocks during non-breeding season.
Food
Aquatic insect larvae, small fish and eggs, beetles, dipterans, spiders.
Voice
A short, clear 'weet' uttered in flight or alarm. Rhythmical churring when challenging an aggressor. Short, high-pitched peeps from fledgelings and juveniles, particularly in flight.
Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) [XC526359]
by James Lidster from Robert Findlay Wildlife Reserve (near Miranda), New Zealand (call, flight call)
Wrybill (Anarhynchus frontalis) [XC526361]
by Frank Lambert from Robert Findlay Wildlife Reserve (near Miranda), New Zealand (call, flight call)
Nest
On the ground in shingle riverbeds, close to water, preferring high points of bare islands and banks, free of plants.
Eggs (Guide)
Clutch Size: 2
Color: pale grey tinged with blue or green and evenly peppered with minute dark brown and pale blotches, spots and lines
Incubation: 30 - 31 days mostly by female
Young
Fledge: 28 days
Subspecies
Genus very close to Charadrius, and perhaps not justifiably distinct. Has been linked particularly with Double-banded Plover (Charadrius bicinctus).
No subspecies.
Similar Species
The right turn of the bill is diagnostic.
Sanderling (Calidris alba)
Similar size. Non-breeding only and in poor views. Has a black shoulder mark. Bill is stright.
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BirdLife International Species Factsheet