The tawny-throated dotterel (Oreopholus ruficollis) is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae, the plovers and their relatives. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay. Taxonomy and systematics The tawny-throated dotterel is the only living member of its genus, though an extinct species O. orcesi is known from fossil remains. It has two subspecies, the nominate O. r. ruficollis and O. r. pallidus. Some authors have suggested that the two deserve further investigation because they have different plumage . Description The tawny-throated dotterel is long and weighs . The sexes are alike and have no seasonal changes in plumage. Adults of the nominate subspecies are mostly rich buff, with heavy dark streaking on the back. The have a white chin, an orange-tawny throat, gray neck and breast, and a small black patch on the belly. Their white underwing shows in flight. Juveniles have a buff throat, less dense streaking on the back, and paler underparts with a brown belly patch. Subspecies O. r. pallidus is very similar to the nominate but smaller and overall paler. Distribution and habitat Subspecies O. r. pallidus of the tawny-throated dotterel has a limited range; it is found in coastal northern Peru only as far south as the Department of La Libertad. What is assumed to be this subspecies has been recorded as a vagrant in Ecuador. The nominate subspecies is found from southern Peru south through western Bolivia, Chile, and western Argentina into Tierra del Fuego and east through southern Argentina into Uruguay and southern Brazil. It has also been recorded as a vagrant on the Falkland Islands. The tawny-throated dotterel inhabits grasslands, heath shrublands, and fields and meadows. The nominate subspecies is found in the puna of the Andes as high as . O. r. pallidus is found on the coastal plain of Peru. Behavior Movement The nominate subspecies of tawny-throated dotterel breeds in the high Andes and moves to lower elevations after that season. Some move to coastal Chile. Populations in the far south migrate north into Argentina and beyond as far as southern Brazil. O. r. pallidus appears to be a year-round resident in its limited range. Feeding Almost nothing is known about the tawny-throated dotterel's feeding behavior or diet. It is known to feed in flocks of as many as 100 birds in the non-breeding season. Breeding The tawny-throated dotterel's nesting season appears to span