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PLATE 39: SMALL PLOVERS II
Lesser Sand Plover Charadrius mongolus PM, WV
L: 20. W: 51. This species is split into two groups: the ‘atrifrons group’ and the ‘mongolus group’;
only atrifrons has been recorded in the region. Very similar to Greater Sand Plover in all plumages,
behaviour and shape; lone individuals can be difficult to identify. Best separated by size (body
slightly larger than Common Ringed Plover; Greater Sand distinctly larger); shorter bill, less
pointed and with more swollen tip (but can overlap with Greater Sand); smaller, more rounded,
less angular head; shorter, darker, more greyish legs (yellowish-green in Greater Sand). At rest,
stance often more upright than Greater Sand. Breeding male has all-black forehead and face
mask, and broad reddish-chestnut breast-band (Greater Sand never shows completely black
forehead, and breast-band is usually narrower); female has black of head reduced (like Greater
Sand). Birds of ‘mongolus group’ very difficult to identify except in breeding plumage, when both
male and female have prominent white forehead, and male often shows narrow, black margin to
chestnut breast-band. Non-breeding and immature plumage (both groups) very like Greater Sand
Plover, when structural features are important. Separated from ‘ringed’ plovers by size and lack of
white hindneck collar; from Caspian Plover by shorter legs and wings, bolder white wing-bar, white
underwing, and less bold supercilium. In flight, legs reach to or slightly beyond tip of tail (in Greater
Sand legs show fairly prominently beyond); both sand plovers show clear, but variable, white wing-
bar: in Lesser Sand Plover this is of more even width (in Greater Sand often most prominent on inner
primaries). Voice Quieter than Greater Sand Plover, having a short, sharp and less trilling chitik,
chi-chi-chi, chik-tik; also kruu-kruit or drriiiit. Habitat Tidal mudflats and sandy coasts. Note Passage
and winter hatched, many oversummer; rare inland.Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii PM, WV
L: 24. W: 56. Resembles larger version of Lesser Sand Plover, and lone individuals can be difficult
to identify. Note especially the larger size (obviously larger than Common Ringed Plover);
longer, more pointed bill, larger, more angular head and large eye; longer yellowish-green
legs, especially thighs (tibiae), with toes projecting well beyond tail-tip in flight. Caspian Plover
is slimmer with proportionately longer legs, and wings protrude well beyond tail when perched;
head is more rounded with broader supercilium, underwing is dusky, and it has only a faint white
wing-bar. Display flight recalls that of the ringed plovers, with dry chortling song incorporating
Ruddy Turnstone-like call-note. Voice When flushed a trilling kyrrr, kirr or trrr; in song flight huit-huit-
huit or ascending dui-dui-tui-dit. Habitat Breeds on inland sand- and mudflats, usually near water;
otherwise mainly coastal. Note May breed Iran; passage and winter hatched. Some oversummer
on Arabian coasts.Caspian Plover Charadrius asiaticus pm
L: 19. W: 58. Slim, delicate plover mostly recalling sand plovers in size and general appearance, but
separated by long, attenuated body with wings projecting well beyond tail-tip; proportionately
longer legs, long neck and smaller head with rather fine tapering bill; broader white supercilium
gives a capped appearance. Male breeding shows distinct blackish lower border to rufous
breast-band. In flight appears long-winged with faint wing-bar, only visible on inner primaries, and
toes clearly project beyond tail; underwings are dusky (not white), and tail is dark with less white
at sides and tip. Voice Flight call is a short, sharp, tyup, sometimes repeated, and occasionally
combined into a rapid series of rattling notes tptptptptp. Habitat Fields, grassy plains, semi-desert;
also coastal areas. Note Generally a rare migrant, but regular in Arabia; vagrant Yemen.