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The endemic New Zealand Shore Plover (Thinornis novaeseelandiae) is confined to a small population on Rangatira (South East Island) in the Chatham Islands. There are about 43 breeding pairs and 130 adults. The population is sedentary. Shore Plover form monogamous breeding pairs in separate defended territories. Clutch size, parental behaviour, courtship, and defence displays are similar to those of other plovers. Shore Plover have several unusual breeding characteristics which may be responses to the relatively constant environment and limited area of habitat on Rangatira, low prey abundance, differences in habitat quality, no mammalian predators, and the presence of certain avian predators. Shore Plover are unique among plovers in nesting under cover, which protects their nests from avian predators and temperature extremes, but which would make nests very vulnerable to predation by mammals. Environmental conditions on Rangatira may also be a reason for the high hatching rate, low chick survival, and differing breeding success within the population.