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9

Kentish Plover

(Charadrius alexandrinus)
German name(s): "Seeregenpfeifer"
Size: 15-17 cm; wing span 43-45 cm
Weight: 40-44 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 Kentish Plover at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

Race "alexandrinus"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Frontal view of a male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-frontal view of a male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]

Near-lateral view of a male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]

Lateral view of a male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage; note the rufous hindneck (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]

Lateral view of a male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage, different posture (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]

This male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage looks like it's been to a jewelers... (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage; note the rufous hindneck (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]

Near-lateral view of Kentish Plovers in breeding plumage, together with Common Ringed Plovers and other waders
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, March 2018]

Direct comparison between a male Kentish Plover and a male Little Ringed Plover, both in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]

FEMALE

BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a female Kentish Plover in breeding plumage (note the wide white collar and frons) together with a non-breeding Common Ringed Plover
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, March 2018]

Lateral view of a female Kentish Plover in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

PAIR

Near-frontal view of a pair of Kentish Plovers in breeding plumage; female at front left, male at back right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo Estuary Nature Reserve, Portugal, March 2018]

Near-frontal/near-dorsal view of a pair of Kentish Plovers in breeding plumage; male at front left, female at back right
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Sex unknown

Two Kentish Plovers in breeding(?) plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Lateral view of a Kentish Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Kentish Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, July 2020]

Dorsal view of a Kentish Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal de Alhos Vedros, Moita, Setubal, Portugal, July 2020]

Near-frontal view of a Kentish Plover in non-breeding plumage banking sharply (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-lateral view of a Kentish Plover in non-breeding plumage, at the back, with a Little Stint in non-breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

More photos of a Kentish Plover, nominate race "alexandrinus"(?), in non-breeding plumage are available from Australia.

Food, Diet

Male Kentish Plover in breeding plumage foraging along the edge of fresh water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

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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