Tūturiwhatu | NZ Dotterels are small birds, about twice the size of a sparrow, but way heavier. Dotterel: Length: 25 cm; Weight: 146 g vs Sparrow: Length: 15 cm; Weight: 28 g. 🐦

New Zealand dotterels are found on or near the coast around much of the North Island.

So this afternoon when I realised the 'leaf' blowing along the beach was in fact a Dotterel chick, you can imagine just how tiny it was (well, 3 of them actually). I kept my distance.

3 Dotterel babies.
Dotterel mum and chick.