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9

Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) Alternate name(s): "Large Sand Plover", "Large-billed Dotterel", "Large Sand-dotterel" Size: 19-25 cm; wing span 53-60 cm Weight: 70-110 g

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Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Greater Sand Plovers are relatively small waders. Their plumage changes between breeding season and eclipse. During the breeding season the face is mostly black (forehead except small white spots, sides), with a greyish-brown cap and a white throat. The wide chestnut breast band extends to the nape of the neck. The belly and vent are white. The upperparts (mantle, tail and upperwings) are brownish-grey, with light-grey edge lining of the wing feathers. In eclipse the upperparts remain unchanged, except for the chestnut tint at the nape of the neck, which disappears with the breast band. At the front, a slate-grey side breast band remains instead of chestnut-brown. The bill is black; the legs and feet are greyish-yellow. Twitcher's tip Compared to other small species of plovers, the Greater Sand Plover has only one chestnut breast band in breeding plumage and NO black band. The correct identification of waders ("shorebirds"), e.g. of the Calidris, Tringa, Actitis and related families or of the Charadrius, Pluvialis and related genera in the field can be quite tricky. We have therefore made an attempt to give some advice HERE.

Taxonomy, classification See Greater Sand Plover at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Greater Sand Plover is available HERE . There are 3 races of Greater Sand Plovers, which are a strongly migratory species. Nominate race "leschenaultii" breeds in eastern Asia, usually in semi-desert country and steppe. They winter in South-east Asia and Australia. The range of race "scythicus" is currently unknown to us. Race "columbinus" breeds in parts of Asia Minor and the Middle East and farther to the East, into central Asia. They winter in East Africa and Arabia. In Australia Great Sand Plovers, nominate race "leschenaultii", are non-breeding migrants from the North that populate the entire Australian seaboard, including the Coral Sea and Bass Strait. During their non-breeding season they are almost never found anywhere inland. Along the coastline, they can be found in various types of aquatic habitat, including e.g. beaches and also many offshore islands, including the entire coastline of Tasmania.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "leschenaultii" Greater Sand Plovers, race "leschenaultii", were first spotted by us in Australia at Bundjalung NP, on the NSW North Coast, in February 2012. B. Hensen reports spotting Greater Sand Plovers, race "leschenaultii", regularly at both East Point and Lee Point, Darwin, NT. M. Mearns reports spotting a Greater Sand Plover, race "leschenaultii", on Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, in January 2016. M. Eaton found Greater Sand Plovers, race "leschenaultii", at Nudgee Beach, QLD, in January/February 2018. Others were found at Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, in January 2023. P. Brown found a Greater Sand Plover, race "leschenaultii", at East Point, Darwin, NT, in January 2019. J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours reports spotting Greater Sand Plovers, race "leschenaultii", at the Esplanade, Cairns, QLD, in September 2020. Race "columbinus" We have previously seen Greater Sand Plovers, race "columbinus", in Oman.

Photos

Race "leschenaultii"

ADULT

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Lateral view of a ring-marked Greater Sand Plover in breeding plumage; the breast band of race "leschenaultii" is much narrower than that of race "columbinus" (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Lateral view of Greater Sand Plovers (left, right and back), with one Lesser Sand Plover, all in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

"Assortment" of waders, with two Lesser Sandplovers in near-breeding plumage, centre and front left, one Ruddy Turnstone in breeding plumage , front right, a second Ruddy Turnstone in non-breeding plumage, front centre, one Greater Sand Plover in breeding plumage, centre right, and a second Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage, towards the back right; on the right and front right there are also two Red-necked Stints (the smallest birds in the photo) in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Full-frontal view of a Greater Sand Plover in transitional plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Near-lateral view of a Greater Sand Plover in transitional plumage; in the background a Ruddy Turnstone
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Greater Sand Plover in transitional plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

NON-BREEDING

Frontal view of four Greater Sandplover in non-breeding plumage, together with a Lesser Sand Plover, also in non-breeding plumage, second from the left (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, July 2014]

Near-frontal view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, January 2018]

Near-lateral view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Mearns)
[Lady Elliot Island, near Agnes Water, QLD, January 2016]

Lateral view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, January 2019]

Lateral view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, January 2018]

Lateral view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Dorsal view a Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage looking sideways (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Flat Rock, Ballina, NSW, January 2023]

Dorsal view of Greater Sand Plovers taking to flight
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Direct comparison of a Greater Sand Plover, right, with a Lesser Sand Plovers, left, caught for banding
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Darwin, NT, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Red Knot in breeding plumage (front), together with a Great Knot in breeding plumage (right), a second Great Knot in non-breeding plumage (centre) and two Greater Sand Plovers in non-breeding plumage in the background (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

Small flock of primarily Greater Sand Plovers in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Small flock of primarily Greater Sand Plovers in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, August 2013]

Pale bird

Frontal view of a Greater Sand Plover in very pale non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Greater Sand Plover in very pale non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Greater Sand Plover in very pale non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Greater Sand Plover in very pale non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Lateral view of a Greater Sand Plover in very pale non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of P. Brown)
[Coconut Grove, Darwin, NT, October 2019]

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Migratory

Elementary unit: Flock

Greater Sand Plovers are often found together with Lesser Sand Plovers.

Food, Diet

Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage with its prey, a small crab (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, January 2018]

Greater Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage pulling a worm out of the sand of a beach (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, January 2018]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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