Greater Sand Plover

Anarhynchus leschenaultii

Family: Plovers and Lapwings · Status: Rare migrant · Size: 22–25 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds from Turkey and Syria across Central Asia to eastern Mongolia. Winters from the Red Sea and eastern Africa across the Indian Ocean to the Thai-Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Greater and Lesser Sundas, and Australia.

Identification

Resembles Tibetan Sand Plover but larger with a larger head, thicker bill with culmen bulge covering half the bill length (versus one-third in Tibetan), and proportionately longer, often yellower legs. Juveniles have broader buff to buff-white fringes to upperpart feathers. Usually moults into non-breeding plumage before arriving in Singapore, while many adult Tibetan Sand Plovers complete moult later in the season.

Habitat

Mudflats and sandy shores.

Behaviour

Associates with other feeding shorebirds, especially Tibetan Sand Plover.