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Medium-sized plover with a long hefty bill.
Vulnerable
Indigenous: Didar Djerap
At a glance
FamilyPlovers and Lapwings
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatMudflats, saltmarsh, estuaries, beaches, lagoons, and shallow inland wetlands.
Best timeReported across most months in Queensland, with no narrow seasonal peak.
Range map
Range map
817visible hotspots
18362visible records
5states
SparseModerateDense hotspot
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
Breeding 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.
Behavior
Breeds in high-elevation areas, where it favors arid, open habitats, sometimes near water.
Gallery