Elegantly patterned with a black breast band and white face; often seen in small flocks on inland plains.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Bundabul, Didar Djerap
At a glance
FamilyPlovers and Lapwings
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatThey are rarely found in northern Australia and are uncommon in most coastal areas and they are not dependent on wetlands and may live far away from water.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
4439visible hotspots
24868visible records
6states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Smaller and shorter-legged than Masked Lapwing. Not generally an urban bird, it is more common inland.
Behavior
In more coastal areas it tends to be limited to areas with very short grass (e.g., airports, turf farms).
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
New South Wales
South Australia
Queensland
Tasmania
Victoria
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Hooded PloverThinornis cucullatusSmall sturdy plover with pink legs and red eyering. Adult has black hood that extends down onto the chin. In western Australia it is also found on saline lakes.→Siberian Sand-PloverAnarhynchus mongolusNon-breeding and immature birds are brownish above and white below, with a variable white forehead and eyebrow. Compare with slightly larger Greater Sand-Plover; Siberian is proportionally smaller-headed and darker-legged, and its shorter bill has a slight bulge at the tip. Smaller Kentish Plover can be similar in non-breeding plumage; Siberian is taller and longer-legged, without Kentish’s strong white neck band. Very difficult to distinguish from Tibetan Sand-Plover, especially nonbreeding and immature birds, though identification can often be presumed by range. In breeding plumage, note the less extensive black mask of Siberian, usually with a white spot on the forehead. In nonbreeding plumage, look for a generally stronger breast band and faint brown markings on the flanks in Siberian. In areas of overlap many birds best left unidentified. Breeds mainly in Russian Far East; winters on coastal mudflats and beaches from Taiwan to Australia.→Greater Sand-PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultiiBreeding adults have a dark mask and orangish chest, neck, and forehead; females duller than males. Non-breeding birds and immatures are sandy brown above and white below, with a white throat and “eyebrows.” Often confused with Lesser Sand-Plover, and best distinguished when both present; look for larger size, heavier and longer bill, paler legs, and larger-headed appearance. Additionally, unlike some Lesser Sand-Plovers, Greater never has a black boundary around the throat. Winters on coastal mudflats and estuaries.→