Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae)

14 species in Singapore.

Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae) are small to medium-sized shorebirds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and mostly long pointed wings, though lapwings tend to have more rounded wings. The bill is short and straight and many species lack a hind toe. Plumage is similar between sexes in most species. The family inhabits open country worldwide, mostly near water, though some species favour grassland or arid ground. Prey is taken by a run-and-pause technique, and they mostly eat insects, worms, molluscs, and other small prey. Most of Singapore's plovers arrive in non-breeding plumage or a transitional plumage.

Among the more regular species, the Anarhynchus plovers are the most difficult to identify. Malaysian, Kentish, White-faced, and Javan Plovers have a white collar around the back of the neck which Tibetan and Greater Sand Plovers lack. Separating the first group mainly relies on face pattern, upperpart patterning, and the colour of the lateral breast patches. Tibetan and Greater Sand Plovers are separated by overall structure and bill shape. Pacific Golden and Grey Plover are also superficially similar but Grey lacks all the golden tones and has black 'armpits' visible in flight.

Most plovers here are coastal, associated with sandy and rocky shores, including suitable areas of reclaimed land. Pacific Golden and Little Ringed Plover also use freshwater wetlands and grasslands. All three species of lapwing favour the freshwater and grassland habitats.

Feed by sight in a run-and-pause style, snatching prey rather than probing for it. Migrant sand plovers and golden plovers gather in large, mixed flocks on mudflats when feeding and roosting. Red-wattled Lapwing is noisy, calling loudly and persistently when alarmed, especially near their nests.