Error message
Unable to fetch location details at this time.
Lesser Sand-plover
Charadrius mongolus
21.3375, 92.0287
Field Notes
Description:
Also known as Mongolian plover, this is a slightly smaller bird (about 20 cm in length) than the Greater sand plover, but the difference of 2 to 3 cm in length becomes evident only when they are in the same flock. Small and plumpy, and like all plovers in non-breeding attire, brown above and white below; fast moving and constantly bobbing up-and-down.
When it comes to two sand-plovers, it seems that one of the keys is the size of the bill (lesser sand plover has a slightly lighter and shorter bill, the greater sand-plover may even appear disproportionate). The second key is the colour of the legs - the lesser sand-plover sports dark-grey legs, the greater's ones are more pale grey-green. The literature mentions the third key to identification also, that the Greater sand plover has a bit longer legs/tibias - but to be honest, I failed to notice that one in my Bangladesh collection...
Habitat:
Observed foraging at the beach near Cox's Bazar. The beach in question is the part of That beach (longest sand beach of the world - 120 Km), and he place where I saw them is at the bottom of hills of Himchari National Park. That outing was the best and richest birdwatching (or, rather, nature-watching as I was not discriminating...) day during my stay ini Cox's.
Notes:
The available Checklists (no many of them looked complete) mentioned 6 various species of Charadrius occuring in Bangladesh, five of them common (Little ringed, Common ringed, Kentish, Lesser and Greater Sandplover), while the Long-billed plover is rare or accidental. Here, I must admit that, when in non-breeding plumage, and especially when seen separately, not in a mixed flock where the size becomes relevant, all Charadrius plovers look uncomfortably alike... They are small, brown above and cream-white below, and VERY fast moving; and they are a real nightmare to ID. So, I would like to thank my friend Srdjan Cuturilov, who always extend his experience and knowledge to help me get through these kind of puzzles, whenever I get stuck; and also to Sayam Chowdhury , a volunteer with e-Bird who provided a last-gate check-up of IDs...
Comments (1)