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Common Ringed Plover
(Charadrius hiaticula)
: "Ringed Plover"
 German name(s): "Sandregenpfeifer"
Size: 17-19.5 cm; wing span 35-41 cm
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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 Click here for a physical description
Common Ringed Plovers are very small waders.
When seen in Europe, they are usually in
breeding
plumage, with a
black-and-white facial mask and an otherwise grey back of the
head. Common Ringed Plovers do not have orbital rings (eye-rings).
The only difference between the sexes is that the
female's
facial mask, in particular the spot behind the ears, is a bit
duller than the
male's.
The neck is a white band, widest at the front, under which
they have a single broad, black chest band. The rest of the
front, down to the undertail coverts, is white.
The back and the wings are grey, with some faint vermiculation
on the wing coverts. In flight they show a thin white wing bar
near the trailing edge of the upperwings.
The irises are dark. The bill is orange, with a black tip; legs
and feet are also orange.
During the
non-breeding season, apart for off-white supercilia and an
off-white patch on the frons, the head is grey. Also the back
is grey and they have a single, wide darker-grey chest band.
The rest of the front is entirely white, as is a thin neck band.
Outside the breeding season the bill is dark-grey, but the legs
and feet stay orange.
Juvenile
Common Ringed Plovers resemble
non-breeding adults, but with more greyish-orange legs.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Common
Common Ringed Plover at Wikipedia  .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to the
ebird.org
website.
The global distribution of the Common Ringed Plover is available
HERE
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There are 3 extant races of Common Ringed Plovers, which are a
partly migratory species. Their overall range is very extended,
with breeding grounds all around the Arctic and wintering grounds
in much of the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, Arabia, south-western
Asia, and large parts of Africa.
In between breeding grounds and winter quarters they can be
found during their migration. They are long-distance migrants
that are also present on most Atlantic islands, ranging from
Greenland, Iceland and Spitsbergen to the Azores.
In Europe Common Ringed Plovers are found as permanent residents
along the German/Dutch North Sea coastline, around Ireland and
the northern coastline of Scotland and the Scottish islands in
the North Sea. Elsewhere they are migratory.
Apart from wetlands in parts of eastern England, in inland Poland,
along the Danish North Sea coast, around the Baltic Sea their
breeding grounds are inside the Arctic circle, in much of
Norway and northern Finland, including inland mountainous
regions, and along the northern Russian seaboard.
Along the European Atlantic coastline and the Mediterrenean
coast they are found as winter visitors.
In intervening areas (parts of Scandinavia, parts of eastern
Europe between the Baltic Sea and the Adriatic) and along a few
well-defined flight paths, they can be found during their migration.
During the breeding season Common Ringed Plovers have
a strong preference for open areas near water, usually
sandy or rocky surfaces or gravel.
They are usually found near the water's edge and will
also nest not far from water.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "hiaticula"
H. Dahlem-Senger reports finding Common Ringed Plovers, nominate race
"hiaticula",
at Naturschutzgebiet (Nature Reserve) Wallnau/Fehmarn, on the
German Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn, Germany, in June 2018.
D. Wilczynska spotted a Common Ringed Plover, nominate race
"hiaticula",
on the river Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, in June 2018.
M. Eaton reports spotting a Common Ringed Plover, nominate race
"hiaticula",
near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018.
Race "tundrae"
The photos of Common Ringed Plovers, race
"tundrae",
in non-breeding plumage
were taken in Egypt.
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Photos |
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Race "hiaticula"
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ADULT |
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MALE |
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BREEDING |
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Near-lateral view of a male Common Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage;
note the prominent black and white facial mask and the broad
chest band (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2018]
Near-lateral view of a male Common Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, June 2018]
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FEMALE |
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BREEDING |
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Close-up lateral view of a female Common Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage;
note the elongated supercilium extending to above the eye,
which is characteristic of females
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Near Tromso airport, Tromso, Norway, in June 2018]
Lateral view of a female Common Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Naturschutzgebiet Wallnau/Fehmarn, Fehmarn, Germany, June 2018]
Lateral view of a female Common Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Naturschutzgebiet Wallnau/Fehmarn, Fehmarn, Germany, June 2018]
Dorsal view of a female Common Ringed Plover in breeding
plumage;
in this perspective the long supercilium is conspicuous
(photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Naturschutzgebiet Wallnau/Fehmarn, Fehmarn, Germany, June 2018]
Race "tundrae"
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ADULT |
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NON-BREEDING |
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Lateral view of a Common Ringed Plover in non-breeding
plumage
feeding on a mudflat; note the characteristic orange legs
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
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Lateral view of a juvenile Common Ringed Plover
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[November 2017]
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.
Breeding
Nest
Eggs
Behaviour
Food
Call/s
