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Little Ringed Plover![]() Size: 15.5-18 cm; wing span 32-35 cm Weight: 26-53 g |
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Similar |
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Photos |
Race "dubius"
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ADULT |
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BREEDING |
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MALE |
Frontal view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Frontal view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Frontal view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage trying
to impress a competitor
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2014]
Near-frontal view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage; note
the black side of the head
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2014]
Near-lateral view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]
Lateral view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2016]
Lateral view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a male Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]
Direct comparison between a male Little Ringed Plover and a male
Kentish Plover, both
in breeding plumage
(photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, May 2017]
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FEMALE |
Near-frontal view of a female Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage; note
the grey sides of the head
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, July 2018]
Frontal view of a female Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Lateral view of a female Little Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of S. Cuturilov)
[Near Kursumlija, South-east Serbia, June 2016]
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NON-BREEDING |
Sex unknown |
Frontal view of a Little Ringed Plover in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]
Lateral view of a Little Ringed Plover in non-breeding
plumage;
note the buff hues on the side of the head
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Marim, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Little Ringed Plover in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Marim, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Little Ringed Plover in non-breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Castro Marim, Algarve, Portugal, October 2019]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a Little Ringed Plover chick
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]
Lateral view of a Little Ringed Plover chick
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2018]
Race "curonicus"
Photos of Little Ringed Plovers, race "curonicus", were taken in Australia.
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Breeding information |
Breeding season: Apr - Sep | Eggs: 3 - 4 | Incubation period: 22 - 28 days | Fledging age: Precocial |
Little Ringed Plover chicks leave their nest at a very young age, soon after the last egg has hatched. They can fly at about 24-29 days of age. Little Ringed Plovers can have more than one brood per season and may engage helpers during the nesting period.
Nest building: Male? | Incubation: Female & male | Dependent care: Female & male |
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Nest |
Type: Scrape | Material: Rocks, sand | Height above ground: N/A |
Little Ringed Plover nest with four eggs in it
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Portugal, May 2020]
Male Little Ringed Plover working on a scrape
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Male Little Ringed Plover working on a scrape
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
Male Little Ringed Plover working on a scrape
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2019]
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Eggs |
Size: 31 x 22 mm | Colour: White, greyish-blue or creamy, with grey to black speckles | Shape: Long tapered oval |
Little Ringed Plovers have the ability to adapt the base colour of their egg shells to the surrounding landscape for camouflage.
Closer look at 4 Little Ringed Plover eggs; note the adaptation
of the colour of the eggs to the surrounding colours
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Portugal, May 2020]
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Behaviour |
The courtship of Little Ringed Plovers, and the defence of their territories, can be a noisy affair, but once nesting has started the species falls silent.
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Call(s)/Song |
For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The
interpretation of their meaning is our own;
comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.
lirplov_jp_20200519.m4a | (Portugal) | Contact calls(?) | © JP | |
lirplov_jp_20180703.m4a | (Portugal) | Contact call(?) | © JP |
More Little Ringed Plover sound recordings are available at
xeno-canto.org
.