The banded dotterel, or pohowera, is a small, delicate wader with a chestnut band across its chest. These birds breed on open beaches, riverbeds, and inland plains, where their well-camouflaged eggs and chicks hides them from their native, aerial predators.
Unfortunately, this does not protected from introduced mammalian predators such as hedgehogs and cats, and they are also susceptible to nest disturbance by people, their dogs, and off-road vehicles. The total population is in the order of 50,000 birds and is declining. Dotterels have disappeared from many sites throughout New Zealand, including some where the habitat has changed little in recent decades.
In breeding plumage from about June to December, the male has a broad chestnut breast band and a narrow black neck band above this. Both of these bands are present but duller in the female. Juveniles may appear greyer than adults, often with a mottled appearance. Many migrate to Australia after breeding, while some stay year-round in New Zealand.
Source: https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/banded-dotterel