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9

Lesser Sand Plover

(Charadrius mongolus)
Alternate name(s): "Mongolian Sand Plover", "Mongolian Plover", "Mongolian Dotterel"
Size: 18-21 cm; wing span 49-58 cm
Weight: 60-100 g

Similar
species

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

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Lesser Sand Plover at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "mongolus"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Lesser Sandplover in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wellington Point, near Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

Frontal view of a male Lesser Sandplover in worn breeding plumage, centre, with other waders (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, July 2018]

Near-lateral view of a male Lesser Sandplover in breeding plumage; note the black on the forehead and around the eyes, plus the neat black fringe ontop of the breast band (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 2018]

Lateral view of a male Lesser Sandplover in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wellington Point, near Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

FEMALE

BREEDING

Lateral view of a female Lesser Sandplover in breeding plumage; note the grey around the eyes and the absence of a black fringe ontop of the breast band, which is scalloped, rather than neat rufous (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Wellington Point, near Brisbane, QLD, March 2019]

Lateral view a female Lesser Sand Plover (centre), with three Greater Sand Plovers, all in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Lee Point, Darwin, NT, March 2013]

"Assortment" of waders, with two (probably female) 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]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

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

Near-frontal view of a Lesser Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage
[Bundjalung NP, NSW, February 2012]

Lateral view of a Lesser Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[East Point, Darwin, NT, December 2015]

Lateral view of a Lesser Sand Plover in non-breeding plumage; this individual has an uncharacteristic complete breast band (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Deception Bay, QLD, February 2018]

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

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

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal Mobility: Migratory Elementary unit: Flock

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

Food, Diet

Lesser Sand Plovers feed on small invertebrates.

Male Lesser Sandplover in breeding plumage pulling a worm out of the sand (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Nudgee Beach, QLD, March 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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