Ringed Plover Bird Facts (Charadrius hiaticula)

Visual Identification

Appearance

The Ringed Plover is a small shorebird with a distinctive black-and-white pattern. It has a brown upper body, white underparts, and a black breast band. The head features a black mask across the eyes and forehead, contrasting with a white stripe above.

Both sexes look similar, though males may have slightly bolder markings. The bill is bright orange, with a black tip and legs also orange.

Juveniles have a duller appearance with a brown breast band and less defined head markings.

In the winter, both sexes lose their bright black rings, which dull to a dark brown shade. Their legs remain orange, although the bill may become completely dark.

Size

Length

17cm to 19cm

Wingspan

35cm to 41cm

Weight

55g to 75g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Brown White

Secondary Colour

Black Grey

Beak Colour

Orange Black

Leg Colour

Orange

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Ringed Plover can be found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Ringed Plover can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Ringed Plover is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Ringed Plovers inhabit coastal areas, including sandy and shingle beaches, estuaries, and mudflats. They are also found around inland water bodies such as lakes and reservoirs. Their breeding range extends across northern Europe and Arctic regions.

In winter, many migrate south to coastal areas of western Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In the UK, they are present year-round, with numbers boosted by winter visitors from northern populations.

In North America, their breeding range extends to the high Canadian Arctic (Baffin Island), as well as western Alaska.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subarctic, Arctic

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a 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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Belgium Benin Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana British Indian Ocean Territory Burkina Faso Burundi Cameroon Canada Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Croatia Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Egypt Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Faroe Islands Finland France Gabon Gambia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Hungary Iceland India Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Lebanon Liberia Libya Luxembourg Madagascar Malawi Maldives Mali Malta Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia Morocco Mozambique Namibia Netherlands Niger Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Poland Qatar Réunion Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Seychelles Sierra Leone Slovakia Slovenia Somalia South Africa Sri Lanka Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Tanzania The United Kingdom Togo Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Belarus Czech Republic Greenland Latvia Lithuania Russia Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Albania Bulgaria Cyprus Guam Macedonia Montenegro Northern Mariana Islands Palau Portugal Serbia South Sudan Spain Tunisia Turkey

Species that pass through the area during migration

Afghanistan Kyrgyzstan Romania Turkmenistan

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Australia Bangladesh Barbados Brunei China Hong Kong Japan Lesotho Liechtenstein Malaysia Mongolia Myanmar New Zealand North Korea Philippines Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Singapore Taiwan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Ringed Plover demonstrates high agility with its quick, stop-and-go running behaviour along shorelines. Its ability to perform elaborate aerial displays during breeding season further showcases its nimbleness.

Strength 40

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

As a small shorebird, the Ringed Plover has modest strength. It's capable of short flights and can swim when necessary, but it's not known for feats of great physical power.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Ringed Plovers show good adaptability, inhabiting various coastal environments from sea level to 1,000 metres elevation. They can breed in different terrains and have adjusted to some human-altered habitats, though they face challenges from coastal development.

Aggressiveness 55

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

While not overtly aggressive, Ringed Plovers display moderate territorial behaviour during breeding season. Their 'broken-wing' display to lure predators away from nests indicates a degree of assertiveness in protecting their young.

Endurance 70

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Ringed Plovers exhibit good endurance, particularly evident in their long-distance migrations. Some populations travel from Arctic breeding grounds to wintering areas in Africa, demonstrating considerable stamina for their size.

Diet

Ringed Plovers primarily feed on small invertebrates found on beaches and mudflats. Their diet includes marine worms, molluscs, small crustaceans, and insects.

They use a distinctive foraging method called 'foot-trembling', where they vibrate one foot on wet sand to bring small burrowing prey to the surface.

Behaviour

Ringed Plovers are often seen running in short bursts along the shoreline, pausing to look for prey. They exhibit a characteristic 'stop-and-go' foraging technique, using their large eyes to spot invertebrates.

During the breeding season, males perform elaborate aerial displays to attract mates.

Vocalisation

The Ringed Plover's call is a distinctive, melodious whistle, often described as a clear 'too-lip', which is often heard in flight.

During the breeding season, males produce a more varied song, including trills and warbles. When alarmed, they emit a sharp 'peek' call, especially near the nest or when predators are present.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding season for Ringed Plovers typically begins in April. Males perform elaborate aerial displays and create several scrapes on the ground, from which the female chooses one for nesting.

The nest is a simple scrape in sand or shingle, often lined with small pebbles or shell fragments. Females usually lay 4 eggs, which are pale buff with dark speckles, providing excellent camouflage.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24 days. Chicks are precocial, leaving the nest soon after hatching and fledge after 24-27 days. They may attempt up to 3 broods a year.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

While currently listed as Least Concern globally, Ringed Plovers face threats from habitat loss and disturbance at breeding sites. Coastal development and increased human activity on beaches pose significant challenges.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting nesting areas and raising awareness among beachgoers.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

415,000 - 1,400,000 individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

Look for Ringed Plovers on sandy or shingle beaches, especially during low tide.
Listen for their distinctive two-note whistle call, often given in flight.
Observe their quick running and sudden stopping behaviour when foraging.
In the UK, watch for them year-round on coastal areas and inland water bodies.
Ringed Plovers can be told from the similar Little Ringed Plover by their black-ringed eye (orange-ringed in Little Ringed Plover). Little Ringed Plovers also have slim, dull pink legs and an all-dark bill.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Common Ringed Plover

Family:

Charadriidae

Average Lifespan

5 years

Max Lifespan

20.8 years ^[4]

Predators

Main predators of Ringed Plovers include gulls, skuas, foxes, and various birds of prey. Eggs and chicks are particularly vulnerable to predation.

Did You Know?

Ringed Plovers have a clever 'broken-wing' display to lure predators away from their nests.
They can swim well and have been observed crossing small water bodies.
Some individuals can live up to 20 years in the wild.

FAQs

What is strange about the nest of a Ringed Plover?

Ringed Plovers do not make much of a nest at all. These ground-nesting birds construct a simple scrape and line it with small pebbles, bits of plant material, and other debris like broken shells.

Interestingly, they almost always arrange their eggs with the narrowest end pointing to the centre.

References

1
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Charadrius hiaticula (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22693759A155487854.
View source
2 3
report, 2015: Wetlands International
4
website, 2010: Fransson et al., EURING list of longevity records for European birds
View source