Tibetan Sand Plover

Anarhynchus atrifrons

Family: Plovers and Lapwings · Status: Common migrant · Size: 19–21 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Breeds in Central Asia and the southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau. Winters from east Africa through India to Southeast Asia.

Identification

Typical sand plover with brown upperparts and white underparts. In breeding plumage, breast and crown orange, contrasting with black eyestripe and forehead. In non-breeding plumage, orange breast is replaced with brown lateral breast patches, and face and head mostly brown with white supercilium. In all plumages, separated from Greater Sand Plover by smaller size, finer bill with culmen bulge closer to the tip, and smaller head – head appears more proportional relative to the body. Usually has dark legs; Greater Sand Plover usually has yellow legs. Separated from Kentish Plover by broader lateral breast-patches and lack of white nuchal collar. Formerly treated as conspecific with the unrecorded Siberian Sand Plover under the name Lesser Sand Plover; Siberian Sand Plover has a more stubbier bill, shorter legs, and usually, a more complete breast-band.

Habitat

Predominantly coastal — mudflats, sandy shores and breakwaters; occasionally freshwater marshes and ponds. Roosts in mixed flocks at high tide.