Plovers
Plovers are wading birds that are found throughout the world. They belong to the subfamily Charadriinae. Most of the members of this species are referred to as “plover” or “dotterel”.
These birds are characterized by relatively short bills.
Their diet consists of insects, worms or other invertebrates.
Species List
Genus Pluvialis
- Eurasian Golden Plover, Pluvialis apricaria
- Pacific Golden Plover, Pluvialis fulva
- American Golden Plover, Pluvialis dominica – the American and Pacific Golden Plovers were formerly considered conspecific (of, or belonging to, the same species) (as “Lesser Golden Plover”; Sangster et al., 2002)
- Grey Plover or Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola
Genus Charadrius
Characterized by the distinctive partial or complete chest bands or collars seen in many of the subspecies.
- New Zealand Dotterel or Red-breasted Plover, Charadrius obscurus
- Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula
- Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus
- Long-billed Plover, Charadrius placidus : Found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
- Little Ringed Plover, Charadrius dubius
- Wilson’s Plover, Charadrius wilsonia
- Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
- Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus
- Black-banded Plover, Charadrius thoracicus : Also known as Madagascar Plover. Endemic to Madagascar. Inhabits subtropical or tropical mangrove forests, sandy shores, intertidal marshes, and coastal saline lagoons.
- Kittlitz’s Plover, Charadrius pecuarius
- St. Helena Plover, Charadrius sanctaehelenae
- Three-banded Plover, Charadrius tricollaris
- Forbes’ Plover, Charadrius forbesi
- Kentish Plover or Snowy Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
- Javan Plover, Charadrius (alexandrinus) javanicus : Endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are sandy shores and intertidal flats.
- White-fronted Plover, Charadrius marginatus
- Red-capped Plover, Charadrius ruficapillus
- Malaysian Plover, Charadrius peronii
- Chestnut-banded Plover, Charadrius pallidus : Found in Angola, Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- Collared Plover, Charadrius collaris
- Puna Plover, Charadrius alticola : Found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Inhabit freshwater lakes and saline marshes.
- Double-banded Plover, Charadrius bicinctus
- Two-banded Plover, Charadrius falklandicus : Found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Uruguay. Inhabit freshwater lakes, saline marshes, rocky shores and sandy shores.
- Lesser Sand Plover, Charadrius mongolus
- Greater Sand Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii
- Caspian Plover, Charadrius asiaticus
- Oriental Plover, Charadrius veredus
- Eurasian Dotterel, Charadrius morinellus
- Rufous-chested Dotterel, Charadrius modestus : Found in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Falkland Islands, Peru, Saint Helena, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Uruguay. Inhabit temperate grassland and sandy shores.
- Mountain Plover, Charadrius montanus
- Hooded Plover, Charadrius rubricollis : Endemic to Australia. Associated with freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, and coastal saline lagoons.
Genus Thinornis
- Shore Plover, Thinornis novaeseelandiae : Its Its Māori name is Tuturuatu. Endangered species that is endemic to New Zealand. Total world population is believed to be around 200 birds.
Genus Elseyornis
- Black-fronted Dotterel, Elseyornis melanops
Genus Peltohyas
- Inland Dotterel, Peltohyas australis
Genus Anarhynchus
- Wrybill, Anarhynchus frontalis : Also known as Ngutuparore (Māori) Endemic to New Zealand. This is the only species of bird in the world with a beak that is bent sideways (almost always to the right).
- Diademed Plovers, Phegornis mitchellii : Found in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. Inhabits subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland and swamps.
- Tawny-throated Dotterel, Oreopholus ruficollis : Found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Peru, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and Uruguay. Inhabits subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, temperate grassland, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and pastureland.
Beauty Of Birds strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information; however, mistakes do happen. If you would like to correct or update any of the information, please contact us. THANK YOU!!!
