Little Ringed Plover

Scientific Name: Charadrius dubius

Malay Name: Rapang Gelang Kecil

Chinese Name: 金眶鸻

Range: Found from Europe to northern Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, temperate Asia, Philippines and discontinuously to New Guinea. Most northern population winters to equatorial Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, southern China, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: curonicus, jerdoni, dubius.

Local Subspecies: curonicus

Size: 14-17 cm

Identification: Non-breeding adult has narrow pale yellow eyering, slender dark bill, greyish-brown upperparts, whitish forehead with indistinct supercilium, white collar, complete greyish-brown breast-band and yellowish legs and feet. Male in breeding plumage has black lores, ear-coverts and breast-band and white forehead and supercilium with prominent black band across forecrown. Female in breeding plumage has brownish-black ear-coverts and breast-band. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult.

Similar looking species: Common Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, White-faced Plover

Habitat: Open grasslands, sandy shores, coastal breakwaters, fringes of freshwater ponds and mudflats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually in small loose groups, feeding in typical plover fashion and often calling in flight.

Local Status: Uncommon migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)

Location: Sungei Buloh, Neo Tiew Lane 2 and 3, Lorong Halus, Pasir Ris Farmway 3, Seletar Dam, Punggol Barat, Tuas South and Marina East Drive.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Non-breeding Little Ringed Plover at Pasir Ris Farmway 3. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Little Ringed Plover in breeding plumage. Photo credit: Frankie Cheong
Little Ringed Plover at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Male Little Ringed Plover in breeding plumage. Photo credit: Daniel Koh aka Hiker
Little Ringed Plover at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Non-breeding Little Ringed Plover at Punggol Barat. Photo credit: Francis Yap
External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Little Ringed Plover)

References:

BirdLife International. (2019). Charadrius dubius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22693770A155486463.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Jeyarajasingam, A., & Pearson, A. (2012). A Field Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. Oxford University Press.

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Singapore Birds Project. (n.d.). Little Ringed Plover. Retrieved on June 4, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/little-ringed-plover.