Charadrius hiaticula
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Mass
~65 g
Habitat
Coastal areas
Diet
Fish and aquatic animals
How to recognize it
The Common Ringed Plover is a small, neat shorebird with a dark band across the chest. On open ground, it is easiest to notice by its tidy posture and quick, short runs.
It stays wary and, when disturbed, does not rush off at once. Near the nest, it tries to draw attention away first, and its voice is a clear, high “kiii” with a softer, more musical display call.
It breeds on sandy and stony shores, flats, and tundra, and it can also settle near villages if open feeding ground is close by. It mainly eats insects, along with worms, molluscs, and crustaceans; in tundra it also takes last year’s berries in spring. It is migratory, though in some places it stays through winter.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The Common Ringed Plover is a small, neat shorebird with a dark band across the chest. On open ground, it is easiest to notice by its tidy posture and quick, short runs.
It stays wary and, when disturbed, does not rush off at once. Near the nest, it tries to draw attention away first, and its voice is a clear, high “kiii” with a softer, more musical display call.
It breeds on sandy and stony shores, flats, and tundra, and it can also settle near villages if open feeding ground is close by. It mainly eats insects, along with worms, molluscs, and crustaceans; in tundra it also takes last year’s berries in spring. It is migratory, though in some places it stays through winter.
