Little Ringed Plover (Thinornis dubius) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Little Ringed Plover is a small plover that breeds across much of Eurasia and rarely visits the United States. Breeding adults have a bright yellow eye-ring and a slim dark bill that help distinguish them from North American plovers.

Appearance

Appearance: This compact plover is about 6.3 in (16 cm) long, brown-gray above and white below, with a dark breast band and face pattern. Breeding adults show a narrow bright yellow eye-ring, a slim dark bill, and dull pinkish legs.
Voice: The common call is a short, dry whistle.

Look-alikes

Semipalmated PloverCharadrius semipalmatus

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) is plumper, with yellow-orange legs and orange at the base of its short bill during the breeding season. Little Ringed Plover has dull pinkish legs, a slim dark bill, and a brighter, narrower yellow eye-ring.

Why they get mixed upBoth are small brown-and-white plovers with one dark breast band.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: gravel riverbars
lake edges
freshwater mudflats
Range: It breeds across much of Eurasia and winters farther south in Africa and Asia. In the United States, it has been recorded only rarely in Alaska and does not breed regularly.
Seasonal presence: It is migratory across much of its Old World range and a in the United States.
Preferred conditions: It favors open pebbly or muddy ground beside fresh or and usually avoids broad tidal flats.

Behavior

Diet: It runs and pauses along wet ground to pick up small animals without backbones.
Activity: It hunts by sight, moving in quick bursts and stopping to watch the ground.

Life cycle

Nest: In its normal range, it scrapes a shallow nest among pebbles on open ground near water.

Name and classification

About the name: It was formerly known as Charadrius dubius.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction

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