22-9-2024 ALBUFERA, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

The common ringed plover or ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula ) is a small plover that breeds in Arctic Eurasia. The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific hiaticula is Latin and has a similar meaning to the Greek term, coming from hiatus, "cleft" and -cola, "dweller" (colere, "to dwell").

Adults are 17–19.5 cm (6.7–7.7 in) in length with a 35–41 cm (14–16 in) wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange and black bill. The legs are orange and only the outer two toes are slightly webbed, unlike the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar semipalmated plover, which has all three toes slightly webbed, and also a marginally narrower breast band; it was in former times included in the present species. Juvenile ringed plovers are duller than the adults in colour, with an often incomplete grey-brown breast band, a dark bill and dull yellowish-grey legs.

This species differs from the smaller little ringed plover in leg colour, the head pattern, and the lack of an obvious yellow eye-ring.

These birds forage for food on beaches, tidal flats and fields, usually by sight. They eat insects, crustaceans and worms.

The common ringed plover's breeding habitat is open ground on beaches or flats across northern Eurosiberia and in Arctic northeast Canada. Some birds breed inland, and in western Europe they nest as far south as northern France. They nest on the ground in an open area with little or no plant growth.

If a potential predator approaches the nest, the adult will walk away from the scrape, calling to attract the intruder and feigning a broken wing. Once the intruder is far enough from the nest, the plover flies off.

Common ringed plovers are migratory and winter in coastal areas south to Africa. In Norway, geolocators have revealed that adult breeding birds migrate to West Africa. Many birds in Great Britain and northern France are resident throughout the year.

20-7-2024 HUSAVIK, ICELAND - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

The common ringed plover or ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small plover that breeds across much of northern Eurasia, as well as Greenland. The genus name Charadrius is a Late Latin word for a yellowish bird mentioned in the fourth-century Vulgate. It derives from Ancient Greek kharadrios a bird found in ravines and river valleys (kharadra, "ravine"). The specific hiaticula is Latin and has a similar meaning to the Greek term, coming from hiatus, "cleft" and -cola, "dweller" (colere, "to dwell").

Adults are 17–19.5 cm (6.7–7.7 in) in length with a 35–41 cm (14–16 in) wingspan. They have a grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband. They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange and black bill. The legs are orange and only the outer two toes are slightly webbed, unlike the slightly smaller but otherwise very similar semipalmated plover, which has all three toes slightly webbed, and also a marginally narrower breast band; it was in former times included in the present species. Juvenile ringed plovers are duller than the adults in colour, with an often incomplete grey-brown breast band, a dark bill and dull yellowish-grey legs.

This species differs from the smaller little ringed plover in leg colour, the head pattern, and the lack of an obvious yellow eye-ring.

The common ringed plover's breeding habitat is open ground on beaches or flats across northern Eurosiberia and in Arctic northeast Canada. Some birds breed inland, and in western Europe they nest as far south as northern France. They nest on the ground in an open area with little or no plant growth.

If a potential predator approaches the nest, the adult will walk away from the scrape, calling to attract the intruder and feigning a broken wing. Once the intruder is far enough from the nest, the plover flies off.

Common ringed plovers are migratory and winter in coastal areas south to Africa. In Norway, geolocators have revealed that adult breeding birds migrate to West Africa. Many birds in Great Britain and northern France are resident throughout the year.

These birds forage for food on beaches, tidal flats and fields, usually by sight. They eat insects, crustaceans and worms.

18-12-2022 FARASUTO FOREST, GAMBIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

26-10-2022 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

21-9-2022 EL SALER, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

25-4-2022 KOTU, GAMBIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

20-5-2022 MUNTANYETA DEL SANS, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

19-4-2022 MANDINA LODGE, GAMBIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

26-9-2021 DEVESA. VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/4801-Charadrius-hiaticula

4-9-2019 RACO DE LONGA, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

6-5-2018 CULLERA RICE FIELDS, VALENCIA - COMMON RINGED PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)

The common ringed plover, Charadrius hiaticula, is a diminutive wader, with adults measuring 17–19.5 cm in length and boasting a wingspan of 35–41 cm. Its plumage is a harmonious blend of grey-brown on the back and wings, while the underparts remain a pristine white. A distinctive black neckband adorns the white breast, complementing the brown cap and white forehead. A striking black mask encircles the eyes, and the bill presents a vivid orange with a black tip. The legs are a vibrant orange, and it is worth noting that only the outer two toes exhibit slight webbing.

When identifying the common ringed plover, look for the single black neckband and the lack of webbing between the innermost toe, which sets it apart from the similar semipalmated plover. Juveniles may appear somewhat duller, with a grey-brown breast band that is often incomplete, a dark bill, and legs of a dull yellowish-grey hue.

This species favors open ground on beaches or flats for its breeding habitat, spanning across northern Eurosiberia and into Arctic northeast Canada. Some populations also breed inland, and in western Europe, they can be found nesting as far south as northern France.

The common ringed plover is a migratory bird, with wintering grounds extending to coastal regions as far south as Africa. In Norway, studies have shown that adult breeding birds migrate to West Africa, while many individuals in Great Britain and northern France remain resident throughout the year.

A clever tactician when threatened, the common ringed plover will feign a broken wing to lure predators away from its nest, only to take flight once the danger is sufficiently distant.

The calls of the common ringed plover, recorded in Norfolk, England, are characteristic of the species and can be heard along the coastlines where they reside.

These birds nest on the ground in open areas with scant vegetation. Their breeding range encompasses northern Eurosiberia and Arctic northeast Canada, with some extending their nesting grounds inland and as far south as northern France in western Europe.

The diet of the common ringed plover consists of insects, crustaceans, and worms, which they forage for on beaches, tidal flats, and fields, primarily using sight to locate their prey.

The IUCN Red List has classified the common ringed plover as Least Concern, indicating that, currently, there are no immediate threats to its population numbers.

The common ringed plover can be confused with the little ringed plover and the semipalmated plover. However, it can be distinguished by its leg color, head pattern, and the absence of an obvious yellow eye-ring, which is present in the little ringed plover. The semipalmated plover has a slightly narrower breast band and more webbing between the toes.