Birds of Singapore
by the Bird Society of Singapore
Thinornis dubius
Family: Plovers and Lapwings · Status: Uncommon migrant · Size: 14–17 cm · Conservation: Least Concern
Occurs from Europe and northern Africa across temperate Asia to the Philippines and New Guinea. Resident in the Indian Subcontinent and Indochina; the migratory population breeds from Europe to the Russian Far East, wintering in Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and Southeast Asia.
Non-breeding adult has narrow pale yellow eyering, slender dark bill, greyish-brown upperparts, white collar, greyish-brown breast-band (sometimes incomplete), and yellowish-orange legs. Differs from Common Ringed Plover in having a yellow eyering, slender dark bill (not orange-tipped), no white wingbar in flight, and yellowish-orange (not orange) legs. Breeding male has black lores, ear-coverts, and breast-band with white forehead, supercilium, and black forecrown band. Breeding female has brownish-black replacing the male's black. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult.
Sandy shores, coastal breakwaters, mudflats, fringes of freshwater ponds, open grasslands, and areas of reclaimed land.
Usually in small loose groups, feeding in typical plover fashion; sometimes uses foot-trembling to disturb prey.