A beach-nesting plover whose eggs and chicks are exceptionally well camouflaged against sand and shell.
NT: Vulnerable
Indigenous: Didar Djerap, Hooded Dotterel
At a glance
FamilyPlovers and Lapwings
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatEndemic to southern Australia where it typically inhabits sandy ocean beaches, nesting just above the high tide mark.
Best timeMost reliable in Victoria from October to February.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Andrew Spencer
Range map
Range map
724visible hotspots
23814visible records
5states
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
Small 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.
Behavior
Endemic to southern Australia where it typically inhabits sandy ocean beaches, nesting just above the high tide mark.
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
Victoria
South Australia
Tasmania
New South Wales
Queensland
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
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.→Banded LapwingVanellus tricolorSmaller and shorter-legged than Masked Lapwing. Not generally an urban bird, it is more common inland.→Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaCompare this bird carefully in the field→