Little Ringed Plover
Thinornis dubius
Delicately built small plover with bright yellow eyerings. Note dull pinkish legs and large white forehead patch (in adults). Plumage much like bulkier Ringed Plover, but white eyebrow continues unbroken across forehead. In flight shows narrow, indistinct whitish wing stripe. Breeds on stony substrates around lakes, gravel pits, and along rivers; migrants occur in wide variety of fresh and brackish wetland habitats, but rarely out on open tidal areas. Clipped “peu” call quite distinct from call of similar Common Ringed Plover.
Identification
Adult little ringed plovers have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes with white above and a short dark bill. The legs are flesh-coloured and the toes are all webbed.<p>This species differs from the larger ringed plover in leg colour, the head pattern, and the presence of a clear yellow eye-ring.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Thinornis dubius
- Authority
- Scopoli, 1786
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Genus
- Thinornis
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PAL, OR : widespread inland subarctic to tropical zones: Eurasia, Indian subcontinent, se Asia, Philippines, New Guinea and Bismarck Arch.
- Non-breeding range
- Sub-Saharan wc to ne, ec Africa; Middle East; s, se Asia and Indonesian Arch.
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
The little ringed plover is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.
- Population trend
- stable
Photos
Distribution
Bird Calls
Other Birds
Peacock Coquette
Lophornis pavoninus
Tiny hummingbird of tepui highlands. Both sexes distinctive: males have long cheek tufts with black spotting, while females are heavily streaked below. Both have a white rump band like other coquettes. Found only in humid forest and scrub in the tepui region. Feeds on nectar by infiltrating territories of larger hummingbirds; also presumably eats tiny insects. May be seen resting on exposed perches. Both sexes are darker than other coquettes in range, and this species typically occurs at higher elevations than others.
Sabah Partridge
Tropicoperdix graydoni
Intricately-patterned partridge of tropical lowland rainforest. Uncommon and declining throughout its range. Brown with buff scaling, rusty bib, stippled black-and-white head pattern, and a pale throat. Forages in small flocks on the forest floor. Found at lower altitudes than other partridges in range and distinguished by pale ear patch and lack of rufous on the head. Song, often given as a duet, consists of loud, tremulous whistles followed by a series of up and down notes “weep! churrrrr…!”.
Salvadori's Teal
Salvadorina waigiuensis
An unusual duck of alpine lakes and mountain streams. Very distinctive elongated shape with yellow bill, dark head, strong barring on the body and a pointy tail which is cocked when startled. In flight, it has a green panel in the wing bordered with white. It swims with a distinctive head-bobbing motion and feeds by dabbling and diving. It is a strong swimmer and can also do agile leaps onto rocks. Usually silent, but occasional gives a quack or series of “whip-whip-whip” notes.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.