White-faced Plover

Scientific Name: Charadrius dealbatus
Malay Name: Rapang Pantai Cina
Chinese Name: 白脸鸻

Range:
Found from south and southeast China with some population wintering south to the coasts of mainland Southeast Asia and Sumatra

Taxonomy:
Monotypic.

Size: 16 cm

Identification:
Formerly considered a subspecies of Kentish Plover. Non-breeding adult resembles Kentish Plover but is bigger and has more white on forehead, shorter/narrower lateral breast-band and distinctively pinkish-toned legs. Breeding male is distinguished from breeding male Kentish Plover by the lack of black eye-stripe while breeding female resembles non-breeding adult but crown, lores, ear-coverts strongly rufous- to orange-toned.

Similar looking species: Little Ringed Plover, Kentish Plover, Malaysian Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Javan Plover

Habitat: Sandy beaches and suitable coastal habitats.

Behaviour/Ecology: Have been observed wintering in Singapore and form flocks with Kentish Plovers and Lesser Sand Plovers.

Local Status: Rare migrant

Conservation Status: Data Deficient (BirdLife International 2016)

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Past accepted records in our database: Showing the most recent 10 records. See more on our database page

Past records, bar chart (see more bar charts):

White-faced Plover at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap

White-faced Plover at Marina East Drive. Photo credit: Francis Yap

White-faced Plover at Changi Cove. Photo credit: Francis Yap

White-faced Plover at Changi Cove. Photo credit: Francis Yap

White-faced Plover, male, at Marina Barrage. Photo Credit: See Toh Yew Wai