The female has black spots above a rufous breast band. The male breast is plain with black scallop-like patterns. Both sexes have brownish backs with some lighter streaking. A scrape in the ground with dried grass, sometimes forming a canopy. Nesting is from July to November and is dependant on good rains.
Dought years result in limited nesting success.
So very habitat dependant, the Plains-wanderer has a very broken range makeing it even more vulnerable to habitat loss. The Plains-wanderer appears to be very particular in its habitat requirements. Native grasslands with patches of bare ground are preferred. It will also accept paddocks and fields with shorter grass but still seems to require the bare patches of dirt or gravel. Be sure to visit the rest of his website, a chronicle of his other birding exploits.