Little Ringed Plover
© Credits: Dave Bakewell & Ang Teck Hin
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Charadrius dubius
MALAY NAME
Rapang Gelang Kecil
CONSERVATION STATUS
LC
Status
Migrant and winter visitor, frequenting a variety of mainly brackish or freshwater wetland habitats (e.g. paddy fields), coastal and inland, including construction sites with temporary pools.
Identification
Small plover with white collar, yellow eye-ring, dark brown upperparts, dark mask, complete breast band, pink or yellow legs, elongated body. In flight, strongly patterned, long tail, no or faint narrow wing-bar. Ad B: (Feb – Oct) ♂︎ has black ear coverts and a narrow breast band. ♀︎ has brown ear coverts and a broad black breast band. Ad Nb/Imm: (Oct – Jan) Brown ear coverts and (sometimes partial) breast band. Buff-fringed upperparts when fresh. Juv: (August) Thin, dark subterminal fringes and shaft streaks to upperparts.
Similar Species
Very long rear end and tail, call, yellow legs and lack of prominent wingbar differentiate it from Kentish and (much-rarer) Common Ringed Plover. Vagrant Long-billed Plover is larger and even longer-tailed, with longer bill and legs. Adult Little Ringed has a dark line above the bill base lacking in Long-billed.
Typical behaviour
Usually seen in small numbers (<50) in loose flocks or singly. Slow walk, peck, pause foraging action; often observed ‘foot-trembling’.
Vocalizations
Very vocal, and once call is known, it is often heard before it is seen. Distinctive, down-slurred ‘pee-oo’ https://xeno-canto.org/777047 .
Range
Possible anywhere, mostly in coastal areas, but also far inland in suitable habitat.
Seasonality
Most frequently seen between August and April.
