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Pluvialis fulva
Brownish-beige mottled bird with black throat and breast ~ 0.25 m tall.
Suburban neighborhood on insular tropical upland plateau.
Spotted walking across a suburban lawn. Known locally as "kolea", this species winters in Hawaii and is quite common during winter months. Apparently this individual does not know that spring has sprung. Kolea display a couple of characteristics: first, when disturbed they prefer to run a short distance away instead of flying off, and second, when one does take flight, it utters a single, short, high-pitched squeak.
Spotted on Apr 14, 2015
Submitted on Apr 14, 2015
3 Comments
We have a few showing up in CA but I never get a chance to get out there before they disappear.
Thanks for the compliment. Unfortunately, the shutter speed wasn't fast enough and I got an "action shot". If you look closely, you'll note that the foot on the trailing leg is blurred.
Here in Hawaii, kolea are generally quite comfortable in the presence of humans. I've been able to approach within 10 m of some birds before they get uncomfortable, run off a few meters, stop and stare at me.
Nice image - I have tried on several occasions but can never seem to approach much closer than 100 to the birds in NZ.