Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Frequently seen running along the shore in a 'stop-and-go' fashion, the Ringed Plover is a plump but neatly marked wader of coastlines and inland waterways.

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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