The Plains-wanderer is one of those birds unique enough to demand its own family - Pedionomidae. It superficially resembles a Quail or Grouse in habit and form, so for a long time it was placed in the Gruiformes. However, it is now recognized to be more closely related to the Plovers and Lapwings, so is in the Charadriformes.
It lives in the grasslands of SE Australia. Unlike the Quail, it has smaller clutches of eggs - usually 4.
Classification:
Order: Charadriformes
Family: Pedionomidae
Genus: Pedionomus
Species: P. torquatus
Photos:
Plains Wanderer
Pedionomus torquatus This is a female - the brighter of the two
Plains Wanderer
Plains Wanderer near Deniloquin, NSW
"Female Plainswanderer at night. May 1995. K200"
Plains Wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus)
21/10/2007 Deniliquin -spot lighting
Video:
No video of this species could be found to post here. If you can provide one, please leave a comment with a link.
Commentary:
Stephen Moss blogs from the Australian bird fair | Environment …
It is a male plains-wanderer, staring back at me intently. At that moment it occurs to me that although I have been watching birds for over 40 years, and seen almost 2000 different species dur… Read more…
Included in the list of “hopeless” birds at this time were such spectacular prizes as the Takahe (Porphyrio mantelli) of New Zealand, the Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) of interior … Read more…
My Blog:. My Blog: Treading the birding landscape in the hope of something running over my foot. Blimey, a Plains Wanderer! My old blog and pictures:. Tom’s birding blog: | A life spent wit… Read more…
A list of birds we’ve spotted on the block since June 2003, including what we think was a Plains Wanderer! (example picture left). We count from the time we turn onto our road - Colensopark… Read more…
australian birdfair and plains-wanderer tour
it seems the plains-wanderer doesn’t like trees, there might be a predator in them. they are not a nocturnal bird, and roost on the ground at night. we set out in a straight line, three gu… Read more…
Deniliquin - SW Plains of NSW - 28th to 30th Dec 2007
The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus), found in inland grasslands across eastern Australia, is of great scientific interest as it may be an ancient member of Australia’s avifauna, wit… Read more…
