Nesting distribution and nomenclature of Australasian Vanelline plovers

Abstract

The nesting range of Vanellus tricolor is south of the Tropic of Capricorn. The nesting ranges of V. miles miles in north Australia and of V. m. novaehollandiae in south-east Australia meet on the coast of Queensland at Townsville where some of the resident plovers are intermediate in external morphology. This distribution pattern supports Bock's revision of the taxonomy and nomenclature of these birds.