Note dull pinkish legs and large white forehead patch (in adults).
Not listed
At a glance
FamilyPlovers and Lapwings
SizeMedium
RarityRare
Habitatsparse woodland, open woodland, grassland, closed forest, and herbaceous graminoids sparse hummock grasses
Best timeMost reliable in Northern Territory from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Vermilingua_pygmaeus
Range map
Range map
13approx hotspots
70approx records
3states
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
Plumage much like bulkier Ringed Plover, but white eyebrow continues unbroken across forehead. In flight shows narrow, indistinct whitish wing stripe.
Behavior
Breeds on stony substrates around lakes, gravel pits, and along rivers; migrants occur in wide variety of fresh and brackish wetland habitats, but rarely out on open tidal areas. Clipped “peu” call quite distinct from call of similar Common Ringed Plover.
Gallery
Regional timing
Victoria
New South Wales
Western Australia
Northern Territory
Commonly confused with
Oriental PloverAnarhynchus veredusBreeding male is dashing, with a pale (sometimes white) head and a bright orange chest separated from the white belly by a thick black bar. Females and nonbreeding adults are similarly stately but much duller in plumage, with brown upperparts, buffy brownish face and sides of breast, and a white belly.→Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaBreeding plumage shows black belly and face with mottled white sides and undertail coverts and a white stripe down the side of the neck that continues onto the sides of the chest and flanks. Nonbreeding plumage is duller grayish-brown overall with a variable golden wash, often quite bright. Juveniles are crisp and neatly spangled above, washed with gold on the upperparts. At all seasons, note more slender shape, slightly smaller bill, and brighter golden tones than Black-bellied Plover, along with grayish underwing in flight. Extremely similar to American Golden-Plover; Pacific is slightly shorter-winged, longer-legged, and larger-billed, but these features are difficult to judge. Juvenile Pacific is usually brighter than American, especially on the face and neck. Pacific found more regularly on beaches and mudflats than American, but much overlap; also note range. Breeds on Arctic tundra from Alaska to Russia. Winters extensively across Southeast Asia, the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand; small numbers found in fall on west coast of U. S.→Black-bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaIn nonbreeding season, more uniformly drab gray with whitish belly. Juveniles are crisp and neatly spangled above, often with a soft golden hue. Often confused with golden-plovers. In all seasons, note Black-bellied's stockier shape, thicker bill, and diagnostic black “armpits” in flight. Often in flocks. Common and widespread across the globe, especially on coastlines; less common inland. Breeds on Arctic tundra.→