- Charadrius placidus
Identification
18–21 cm. (7-8¼ in.)
This rather elegant species is similar to Common Ringed Plover, Semipalmated Plover and Little Ringed Plover but generally larger, with longer dark bill, it is generally less compact. It has a longer tail and medium length straw-colored legs. Notice the dusky lores and ear coverts. Sexes are alike, but breeding male has a broader black forecrown bar. Juvenile similar to adult but has buff fringes to the upperparts, tertials and wing coverts and has a more diffuse head pattern lacking the black forecrown bar of adults.
Similar species
Within range, likely to be confused only with Common Ringed Plover or Little Ringed Plover. Latter is much smaller with much stronger, more obvious bright yellow orbital ring and more obscure wing stripe in flight. Former has much broader black breast-band, orange legs and more obvious white wing strip in flight.
Distribution
Breeds in eastern Asia; winters to India and Indochina.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeds in gravel, shingle or stony areas at edges of rivers and lakes up to about 1,000 feet. Also occurs in dry rice fields.
Behaviour
Usually solitary when foraging
Breeding
Little known. Clutch reportedly consists of four eggs in a scrape on sandy ground among pebbles and rocks, sometimes on elevated riverbank.
Diet
Poorly known. Diet believed to include flies and beetles.
Movements
Populations in Russia and northeast and eastern China wholly or mainly migratory, respectively, moving south to eastern Nepal, eastern India, northern Indochina, southern China and southern Korea. Japanese population beleived to be mainly sedentary.
Vocalisations
Rising pwee call.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Chandler, R. (2009). Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia: A photographic guide. Princeton.
- Wiersma, P., Kirwan, G.M. & Boesman, P. (2019). Long-billed Plover (Charadrius placidus). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/53824 on 20 April 2019).
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Long-billed Plover. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 16 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Long-billed_Plover
