White-faced Plover
Anarhynchus dealbatus
A small, pale plover with sandy upperparts, pinkish-colored legs, and a black bill. Male in breeding plumage has a mostly rufous crown and small black marks on top of the head and at the sides of the breast. The face is mostly white, including the area between the bill and eye. Breeding female and non-breeding adults duller, lacking black and rufous. The face is still pale, though there can be a hint of brown between the bill and eye. Breeding range and habitat unknown. In migration and winter, found along the coast on sandy beaches, dry mudflats, and salt ponds. Often joins mixed-species shorebird flocks, especially with other plovers. Separated from Common Ringed and Little Ringed Plovers by the lack of a complete dark band across the breast. Very similar to Kentish Plover. Breeding male is separated by the white (rather than black) area between bill and eye, and by the more restricted black on the head and sides of the breast. Female and non-breeding birds more difficult to separate, but note the whiter face, smaller dark patch at the side of the breast, paler legs, slightly heavier bill, and slightly broader white stripe through the wing (visible in flight). Also similar to Malaysian Plover, but separated by the whiter face (including the area between the bill and eye), less scaly-looking back, and smaller dark smudge at the side of the breast. Breeding male further distinguished by the lack of a black collar at the back of the neck.
Identification
The white-faced plover grows to a length of about 17 cm (6.7 in). It has a rounded head with a white fore-crown and a white supercilium. The crown is pale rufous brown upper parts are pale brownish-grey. The hind collar, throat and underparts are white. The beak and legs are dark and the tail short. Compared to the rather similar Kentish plover, it has a thicker, blunter beak, white lores, paler crown and upperparts, less black on the lateral breast patches and a larger white wingbar.
Taxonomy
The white-faced plover was first described in 1870 by the English naturalist Robert Swinhoe. The type specimen came from the island of Formosa (Taiwan) and he gave it the name Aegialites dealbatus. Since then the bird has been the subject of much debate and has variously been classified as being conspecific with Charadrius marginatus, Charadrius alexandrinus, Charadrius nivosus, Charadrius javanicus and Charadrius ruficapillus. Some authors consider it to be a subspecies of C. alexandrinus while others give it full species status as C. dealbatus.<p>However, the White-faced Plover is now acknowledged as a distinct species by prominent international checklists, aligning with the recommendations based on recent genetic, ecological, and demographic findings.
- Scientific name
- Anarhynchus dealbatus
- Authority
- (Swinhoe, 1870)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Recurvirostridae
- Genus
- Anarhynchus
Range and habitat
This bird is found along a wide seaboard area of southern China and adjacent northern Vietnam ; its wintering range extends south across eastern Indochina towards Sumatra. It typically inhabits sandy beaches, mudflats and saltpans, and outside the breeding season visits reclaimed areas.
- Breeding range
- OR : presumably coastal se China; also s Vietnam (1 nest)
- Non-breeding range
- to coastal s Vietnam, s Thailand, Malay Pen., Singapore and e Sumatra
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Behavior
The diet of this bird has been little studied but is presumed to be similar to that of the Kentish plover which feeds on small invertebrates such as insects and their larvae, spiders, molluscs, crustaceans and marine worms. It feeds on the foreshore, searching visually for prey then dashing forward to catch the prey or probing the substrate with its beak. Its breeding habits are not known.
Conservation
- Population trend
- unknown
Photos
Distribution
Other Birds
Grauer's Broadbill
Pseudocalyptomena graueri
A unique dumpy green flycatcher-like broadbill with a buffy crown, a black eye-stripe, and a powder-blue throat and vent. Juvenile duller. A scarce resident found singly and in pairs in the lower canopy and at middle levels of primary Albertine Rift Forest between 1760 and 2500 meters of elevation, preferring the edges of clearings. Highly localized, occurring in two isolated populations in Bwindi (Uganda) and Itombwe/Kahuzi (Democratic Republic of Congo), and inexplicably absent from ideal intervening habitat. May join flocks, but inconspicuous unless calling its soft high-pitched tinny “tsit-tsit,” repeated multiple times, and a rapid “tseet-tsit-tsit-sit-sit-it-it” in flight.
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Fairly small, stocky shorebird with short, chisel-like bill. Breeding plumage is particular striking with bright rusty upperparts and bold black-and-white pattern on head and neck. Nonbreeding and juvenile are duller brown but still boldly patterned; note orange legs. Interesting behavior of flipping over rocks, shells, and other debris to nab invertebrates. Fairly common, with extensive global range. Breeds in the high Arctic tundra; winters on coastlines nearly worldwide. Prefers rocky habitats, but also seen on beaches and mudflats. Usually in small flocks, often mixed with other shorebirds. Listen for low, hard rattle call.
Buffy-crowned Wood-Partridge
Dendrortyx leucophrys
Very elusive, chickenlike bird of humid evergreen and pine-evergreen forests and adjacent shade-coffee plantations in the highlands of extreme southeast Chiapas and from Guatemala to Costa Rica. Usually in pairs or small groups on the forest floor; may be seen beside quiet trails and roads early and late in the day. Runs away quickly and rarely flies. Note the white crown and throat, dark bill, and red eyering. Loud rollicking songs are given mainly early and late in the day and most often reveal its presence.
Start Your Bird Watching Journey
Identify a bird outdoors and keep the field guide close for your next observation.