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Pluvialis fulva
Brownish-beige mottled bird ~ 0.25 m tall.
Tropical island. In this case, a mixed residential and industrial area adjacent to an airfield.
Spotted on Wheeler AAF. This species is actually quite common locally. It reliably displays a couple of characteristics: First, when disturbed or feeling threatened, with short, quick steps, it walks--runs, actually--away for 2 or 3 meters, and then stops, looks about and, if still feeling uncomfortable, repeats the walk-stop-look behavior. Second, if really spooked, it flies off, uttering as it does a short, single, high-pitched, squeak.
Stephen, thanks for the ID. I've made the appropriate edits to the spotting. Clearly, kiwis are familiar with more than one bird. :)
Spotted on Sep 8, 2013
Submitted on Sep 9, 2013
