Malaysian Plover

Scientific Name: Charadrius peronii

Malay Name: Rapang Pantai Melayu

Chinese Name: 马来鸻

Range: Found throughout Southeast Asia except Java.

Taxonomy: Monotypic.

Size: 14-16 cm

Identification: Male resembles breeding male Kentish Plover but upperparts and wing-coverts with prominent pale fringes (appear scaly or mottled) and black lateral breast-patches extend in complete band below white nuchal collar. Female looks similar to male but lateral breast-band is rufous-orange and lack black crown-patch. Juvenile appears duller than female.

Similar looking species: Kentish Plover, White-faced Plover, Javan Plover

Habitat: Sandy beaches and suitable coastal habitats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Usually solitary or in pairs and sometimes in very small groups.

Local Status: Uncommon resident

Conservation Status: Near Threatened (BirdLife International 2017)

Location: Tuas, Changi, Lorong Halus, Seletar Mudflat, Pulau Semakau and the breakwaters near Marina Barrage.

Female Malaysian Plover at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Juvenile Malaysian Plover at Tuas South. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Male Malaysian Plover at Marina Barrage. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Female Malaysian Plover at Marina Barrage. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai
Female Malaysian Plover at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Malaysian Plovers at Sletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Male Malaysian Plover at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Female Malaysian Plover at Seletar Dam. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Malaysian Plovers at Changi Cove. Photo Credit: Francis Yap
Malaysian Plover chick at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap
Malaysian Plovers at Changi Cove. 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 (Malaysian Plover)

References:

BirdLife International. (2017). Charadrius peronii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T22693836A110905171.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.). Malaysian Plover. Retrieved on May 30, 2023 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/malaysian-plover.