Little Ringed Plover

1. Bird Name
English Name: Little Ringed Plover
Scientific Name: Charadrius dubius

2. Appearance
The Little Ringed Plover is an adorable, petite bird with a distinctive, two-tone color scheme. Its back and wings boast a light sandy-brown color, perfectly blending into river banks and pebble beaches, while its belly is a stark white. A unique black-and-white pattern marks the head, with a conspicuous black crown and a distinctive eye-mask. An eye-catching yellow eye ring surrounds its dark, inquisitive eyes. The bird’s beak is short and straight, perfect for plucking invertebrates from the soil, and takes on an orange color at the base, fading to black at the tip. Males and females are quite similar in appearance but during breeding periods, males display brighter markings.

3. Size
The Little Ringed Plover measures approximately 15 cm (5.9 inches) long. They have a wingspan of around 35 cm (13.8 inches) and weight between 25 to 55 grams, depending on the gender.

4. Habitat & Distribution
Little Ringed Plovers can be found across temperate regions of Europe and Asia as well as parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. They predominantly prefer habitats with soft, wet soils near fresh water such as riverbanks, lakes, marshlands and occasionally coastal areas.

5. Interesting Facts
The Little Ringed Plover is an extremely skilled migrator, often traveling thousands of miles between breeding and non-breeding areas. Despite their small size, these birds exhibit a particular territorial behavior, especially during breeding periods. Another noteworthy trait is their ‘broken-wing act,’ used to deceive predators by pretending to be injured and leading them away from their nests.

6. Diet
These birds feed predominantly on insects, spiders, and other small invertebrates. They forage for their food along muddy shorelines and riverbanks.

7. Behavior & Sounds
Little Ringed Plovers have a distinct flying style with rapid wing beats, making short low flights before descending abruptly. Their call, usually given in flight, resembles a soft, rising, ‘pweep’. Mating displays by males typically include circling over territory followed by two short staccato notes.

8. Conservation Status
According to the IUCN Red List, the Little Ringed Plover is of ‘Least Concern,’ because of its extensive range and stable population.

9. Lifespan
Little Ringed Plovers live for an average of 7-8 years in the wild, although some individuals have been recorded to live up to 11 years.

10. Additional Notes
In some languages, the Little Ringed Plover’s name reflects its physical appearance. For instance, in French, it is called ‘Pluvier petit-gravelot’ (little pebble plover). The Little Ringed Plover plays an important role in their ecosystem by controlling insect populations and acts as a source of food for larger predators. Their presence is often an indicator of a healthy water ecosystem. This bird tends to avoid major human settlements and interferes little with humans, although it may see construction activities as a threat to its habitat.