dotterel

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdɒt(ə)r(ə)l/

noun (plural or dotterels)

  • a small plover with a brown streaked back and a chestnut or buff belly with black below, breeding in mountainous areas and in the tundra.
    • Genus Eudromias, family Charadriidae: two species
  • [with modifier] Australian/NZ any small plover, especially one of the genus Charadrius.

Origin:

Middle English: from dote (so named because it is easily caught) + -rel. Compare with dodo