Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius

This small wader darts along shorelines with swift precision, its distinctive golden eye ring setting it apart from its plover cousins.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Little Ringed Plover is a small wader with a distinctive appearance. It has a brown upper body, white underparts, and a black-and-white head pattern. The bird features a prominent black eye stripe and a thin black breast band.

Both sexes look similar, with juveniles having a less defined head pattern and a buff-edged upper body. During the breeding season, adults develop a bright yellow eye ring, enhancing their facial features.

Breeding females are similar in markings to males but have a slightly narrower eye ring than males, and their breast band is less bold, with a brownish tinge.

Size

Length

14cm to 17cm

Wingspan

42cm to 48cm

Weight

32g to 48g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Little Ringed Plover can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Little Ringed Plover can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Little Ringed Plover is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Little Ringed Plovers inhabit a variety of wetland habitats, including riverbanks, lake shores, and coastal areas. They prefer areas with sparse vegetation and exposed sand or gravel. These birds are widely distributed across Europe and Asia.

During the breeding season, they are found across much of Europe, including the UK, and parts of Asia. In winter, they migrate to Africa, southern Asia, and parts of Southeast Asia, showcasing their impressive long-distance migration capabilities.

In the UK, breeding grounds are most prevalent in southern, central, and northern England. Some breeding also occurs in Wales and lowlands in east and central Scotland.

Elevation Range

Up to 800 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Little Ringed Plover. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons