Some of the past literature on these species has been a bit confused and makes the different species seem more similar than is actually the case. This is often due to confusion caused by geographical variation. I am lucky to live somewhere that all three species occur, and can be seen alongside each other (in Hong Kong), which is why I have been interested in these species.
The following is a brief summary to what I consider the most important features of breeding plumage sand plovers
in East and Southeast Asia (because of geographical variation, these may not necessarily apply in the Middle East and Central Asia, especially
columbinus Greater).
Tibetan Sandplover (schaeferi)
Male:
Fully black forehead*,
black mask, no black band on upper breast.
Extensive bright orange on breast and flanks sometimes
extends as far as the belly, with a smooth appearance and smooth transition to whiter belly, often also with extensive orange on the upperparts/crown.
Legs are usually dark grey or black.
*The (black) forehead is often the last thing to moult into breeding plumage and the first to moult after breeding, so birds can show white patches on the forehead during moult. Don't assume that a bird with white on the forehead is not Tibetan
Female: Pattern is similar to the male, but the
forehead and mask are brown. Breast colour usually
paler orange than on the male and less likely to show orange in the upperparts.
Siberian Sandplover (mongolus/stegmanni)
Male:
Black frame on forehead with white patches on centre of forehead usually split in two by black line down centre,
black mask, often with a
narrow black band on the upper breast.
Extensive
red on breast and flanks, often with whiter tips to feathers. Breast colour is darker and not as bright as on Tibetan,
usually a slightly pinkish-red. Not as extensive on the belly as Tibetan and with sharper transition to white belly.
Often slightly browner/greyer on flanks. Often red collar, but little red in the mantle or crown.
Legs are usually dark grey.
Female: Similar to the male, but often with a
dark brown mask (not pure black),
some browner feathers in the breast band, slightly less extensive breast band and may lack the black band across the upper breast. Often has a short, white supercilium behind the eye.
Greater Sandplover (leschenaultii)
Male:
Black frame on forehead with white patches on centre of forehead* usually split in two by black line down centre, black mask, no black on breast
Pale orange breast band narrow, only on upper breast, sometimes with an isolated orange patch on the fore flanks near the bend of the wing. Breast band paler than on Tibetan or Siberian, with clean lower edge. Sometimes with orange on the mantle and/or crown.
Legs are usually pale yellow-orange or greenish.
* We get a few Greater SP in Hong Kong with very tiny white spots on the forehead, which can be confused with Tibetan. Check other features as well.
Female: Variable. Usually with
browner mask than the male and brown in the breast band. Some seem to show little breeding plumage.
Male Tibetan:
ML617918318 - Tibetan Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library
Female Tibetan:
ML445670931 - Tibetan Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library
Male Siberian:
ML618409582 - Siberian Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library
Female Siberian:
ML617902373 - Siberian Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library
Male Greater:
ML616848701 - Greater Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library
Female Greater:
ML617128555 - Greater Sand-Plover - Macaulay Library
