Page 172 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WADERS
Order Charadriiformes Family Charadriidae Species Charadrius hiaticula
Ringed Plover weaker breast-band

dull
bill
bold white
white tail wingbar white stripe
sides over eye
short, black
and orange
black and white bill
dark ringed head
tail tip and throat
ADULT (WINTER)
pale sandy brown
ADULT upperparts broad breast-band dull
(SUMMER) head
white over eye
IN FLIGHT
clean white
underparts
incomplete
breast-band
dull legs
orange legs

JUVENILE
ADULT
(SUMMER) FLIGHT: strong, fast, direct; shallow beats of
angled wings; bat-like song-flight.
long with the Dunlin, this species is one of the common
A “standards” by which other waders may be judged.There
are several other “ringed” plovers with similarly patterned heads
but none in Europe with such brightly coloured bill and legs.
It is generally a coastal bird, although it does move inland,
sometimes in places usually frequented by the Little Ringed
Plover. In spring and autumn especially, substantial numbers may
appear inland where conditions are right, sometimes pausing on
migration for several days. It forms tightly packed flocks at high
tide, often mixed with other waders. Usually, a large, tight flock
will be more or less clearly separated, with each species bunched
together within it. “BROKEN WING LOOK”
If a predator threatens the nest or chicks, the parent plover
VOICE Characteristic fluty whistle, a bright, mellow too-li;
feigns injury to lead it away.
also sharp queep; repeated
too-wee-a too-wee-a in
SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRENCE
song-flight. Breeds on sand and shingle
NESTING Shallow scrape LITTLE RINGED PLOVER duller beaches, near gravel pits inland.
see p.169 bill
in sand or stones, lined Found at any time of year mostly
plain wing
with pebbles and grass on broad beaches, including
stems; 4 eggs; 2 or 3 estuaries, of all kinds, but fewest
on rocky shores. Widespread
broods;April–August.
FEEDING Picks small duller migrant inland and on coasts.
legs
insects and worms Seen in the UK
from ground. J F M A M JJ A S O N D
Length 17–19cm (6 1 ⁄2 –7 1 ⁄2in) Wingspan 48–57cm (19–22 1 ⁄2in) Weight 55–75g (2–2 5 ⁄8oz)
Social Winter flocks Lifespan 5–10 years Status Secure
170