Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Limited Knowledge 3
This species looks similar to the Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus), but is slightly larger. It is only known from a single sighting on Herschel Island. If you see this species please take a photo, note where you are and upload it to iNaturalist or send it to us at yukoncdc@gov.yk.ca. You may help us understand more about this high-arctic species, which is important in the face of the warming climate.
Description 4
Length: 18-20cm/7-8in. Plumage: above dark greyish brown; below white; forehead and superciliary stripe white, collar around neck white; crown and cheeks brown; breast band, line through eye and over forehead black in breeding and dark brown in non-breeding adult. White at base of flight feathers in spread wing. Immature like adult but with pale edges to feathers of back; breast band paler and broken; brown on face paler than adult. Bare parts: iris brown; bill orange-yellow with a black tip; feet and legs bright orange-yellow (diagnostic).
Summary 5
A small masked dumpy looking bird is a good description of the ringed plover. However, just like the lapwing, it is a master at distracting enemies away from its simple nest by pretending to be an easy prey. Ringed plovers may be small but they are also bold and venturous. They dribble back and forth over the bare sandy ground, pulling worms and larvae out of the ground. Their nest is not much more than a hollow in the sand, in which their four perfectly camouflaged eggs are laid. Nests are above high-water mark on seashore or sometimes on bare or shingly areas away from the seashore. Nest may be in the open but often is near or sheltered by a plant tuft.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Mark Kilner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/60298464@N00/3144428076
- (c) Agustín Povedano, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/decadiz/8150342884/
- (c) Yukon Conservation Data Centre, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
- Adapted by Yukon Conservation Data Centre from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/32054474
- Adapted by Yukon Conservation Data Centre from a work by (c) Copyright Ecomare, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22758929
More Info
Range Map
iNaturalist.ca Map
| Animal | Bird |
|---|---|
| Color | brown, grey, white |
| Bird | waders |
