Lesser Coucal, 7/4/2012

Knowing from one birdwatching friend's blog that Lesser Coucals appeared in Maokong area of Wenshan District, Taipei City, I headed for Maokong area. After a little bit time-consuming search, luckily I heard a constant "boo-goo, boo-goo,..." sound. Instantly I knew it came from some kind of bird in the Cuculidae family, so does Lesser Coucal. And guess what? It did come from this adult Lesser Coucal in its summer plumage.



A subadult also appeared.



Lesser Coucal is common local bird in Taiwan. They often appear alone in bushes at low altitude. I was lucky to see the bird once in this February(see "Lesser Coucal, 2/21/2012").



Subadult



Adult video, summer plumage



Subadult video

Chinese name:	番鵑
English name:	Lesser Coucal
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Centropus bengalensis
Order:	Cuculiformes
Family:	Cuculidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	Tiny animals, fruits
Habitat:	Woods, bushes
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone in bushes at low altitude. When breeding, the parent birds might stand on top of trees.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 39 cm long. Summer plumage: Most of its body is shining black, while the wings are reddish-brown. Winter plumage: Its body is mostly dark brown. Belly is light yellowish-brown. There are horizontal thin stripes on the head. There are vertical thin stripes on the neck, breast and back, with similar formation on the wings. Subadult plumage: Similar to winter plumage, but the color is lighter. The horizontal yellowish-brown stripes on the wings are wide. Belly is white.
Breeding places:	Original species live in Taiwan, Lanyu, coastal area of South China, Hainan Island, etc. Subspecies live in Philippine, Brunei, India, Myanmar, etc.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	7/4/2012
Location found:	Wenshan District, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

View Lesser Coucal in winter plumage(click to view).

Taiwan Whistling Thrush, 7/1/2012

Taiwan Whistling Thrush is common local bird in Taiwan. It's one of the Taiwan endemic subspecies. It usually appears on stream rocks, stream banks, under the trees or on tree branches. Its cry is sharp and long-lasting, like whistling. That's why they are called Whistling Thrush. You can hear it from distance. Its size is the largest among the Turdidae family in Taiwan, about the same size as Rock Dove. The whole bird is blackish purple-blue, with a shiny metal tone.


Photographed on 5/11/2011, at Wenshan District of Taipei City



Photographed on 5/11/2011, at Wenshan District of Taipei City



Photographed on 5/11/2011, at Wenshan District of Taipei City



Photographed on 7/1/2012, at Shiding District of New Taipei City



Video, recorded on 7/1/2012, at Shiding District of New Taipei City



Video, on 5/11/2012, at Wenshan District of Taipei City

Chinese name:	台灣紫嘯鶇
English name:	Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Formosan Whistling Thrush
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Myiophonus insularis
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Turdidae
Species status:	Taiwan endemic subspecies
Conservation status:	IUCN lists it as Least Concern, but Taiwan lists it as "Class III - Other Conservation-Deserving Wildlife".
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	insects
Habitat:	Woodlands, streams, creeks
Altitude:	Low to Mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear alone in streams, creeks, woodlands.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 17 to 32 cm long. Largest among the Turdidae family in Taiwan. Male plumage and female plumage are about the same. The whole bird is blackly purple-blue, with a shiny metal tone. Bill and feet are black. Iris is red. Its cry is sharp and long, like whistling. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	China, Taiwan.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	5/11/2011, 7/1/2012
Location found:	Wenshan District of Taipei City, Shiding District of New Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Crested Goshawk, baby birds, 6/23/2012

Crested Goshawks breed every year at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City. This year they come again to nest and raise babies. When the news spreads out, wave after wave of birdwatching fans come to photograph the breeding scenes. I also come every now and then to photograph them. This is the first time I ever photograph the breeding process of the Crested Goshawk.

The Crested Goshawk is uncommon local species in Taiwan. IUCN lists the Crested Goshawk as Least Concern, but Taiwan lists it as very rare. Although they are listed as very rare, in fact they can be easily seen in most big city parks in Taipei City. They often glide up high in the sky searching for preys. Occasionally they nosedive to attack other birds. I once saw a Crested Goshawk nosedive to attack a Malaysian Night Heron. The Malaysian Night Heron widely opened its wings and shouted out loud to resist the attack. The Crested Goshawk finally gave up the attack at the final moment. Every time when the Crested Goshawk arrives in Taipei Botanical Garden, the garden would instantly become silent totally, which is very different from the chirps and twitters of other birds during an ordinary day. When the Crested Goshawk arrives, other birds, except the Malaysian Night Herons and the Black-crowned Night Herons, would disappear. It seems that the size makes a difference.


Photographed on 5/26/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



At first, there are two baby birds. Photographed on 5/29/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



This one grows faster. Photographed on 6/1/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



This one grows slower. Photographed on 6/3/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



The faster one. Photographed on 6/3/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



The faster one is on the left and the slower one is on the right. Photographed on 6/6/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



The faster one already could jump up and down on the same tree as the nest. Photographed on 6/6/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



Birdwatching fans found the slower one would not eat anything its parent fed. It's a bad sign! Photographed on 6/6/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



This is either the father or the mother. Photographed on 6/6/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



Later some birdwatching fan witnessed the slower one dropping down on the ground from the high nest and rescued the wounded bird and sent it to National Taiwan University. I have had no news about the bird since then. Photographed on 6/7/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



The faster one already could fool around in the nearby trees. Photographed on 6/7/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



The wings of the faster one were full-grown already. Photographed on 6/15/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



Photographed on 6/15/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City



Finally the faster one survived and extended its territory to the surrounding trees. Photographed on 6/23/2012 at CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City

Chinese name:	鳳頭蒼鷹
English name:	Crested Goshawk
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Accipiter trivirgatus
Order:	Falconiformes
Family:	Accipitridae
Species status:	Taiwan endemic subspecies
Conservation status:	IUCN lists it as Least Concern, but Taiwan lists it as "Class II - Rare and Valuable Species".
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Birds, rats, lizards, insects
Habitat:	Woodlands
Altitude:	Low to Mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Appear alone in woods. Usually hide itself thoroughly in the woods and search for preys at sunrise, noon and late afternoon. Often hover in the sky.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 41 to 48 cm long. Female is slightly larger than male. Bill is black. Bill and paws are sharp curves. Adult eye are golden or orange. Plumage is mainly mouse grey. Belly is white with horizontal dark-brown stripes. Feet are yellow. Wings will flap when flying. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	Southeast Asia, Taiwan, etc.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	2011/4/1, 2012/6
Location found:	CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Malaysian Night Heron, baby birds, 6/18/2012

Malaysian Night Herons are uncommon Taiwan local birds. Although they are categorized as uncommon, they in fact can be easily seen in large or small parks throughout Taipei City and New Taipei City. They nest and breed every year in city parks.


Photographed on 6/18/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden












Video recorded on 6/18/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden

Chinese name:	黑冠麻鷺
English name:	Malaysian Night Heron
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Gorsachius melanolophus
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Fishes, shrimps, worms, insects
Habitat:	Wetlands, grasslands, parks
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Appear alone
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: Adult bird is mainly brown. Head top is dark blue with long crown. Eyering is sky blue and extend to the base of bill. Subadult is a lighter version of the adult bird and covered with small grayish white stripes.
Breeding places:	South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	6/18/2012
Location found:	Taipei Botanical Garden, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Other Malaysian Night Heron post.(click to view)

Emerald Dove, 6/17/2012

One day, this Emerald Dove appeared suddenly in Da-an Forest Park of Taipei City and stayed for over one month. Every time I saw it, it was either resting on tree branches or picking up and eating fallen banyan fruits on the ground. During its stay in Da-an Forest Park, this bird appeared and disappeared suddenly many times. Sometimes it would disappear completely for several days, and then re-appeared out of nowhere. There are many wounds on the bird, including a big hole without feathers on top of its head and many similar holes on the wing. Emerald Dove is Taiwan local species and is listed as very rare.



Photographed on 6/17/202 at Da-an Forest Park, Taipei City




Photographed on 6/17/202 at Da-an Forest Park, Taipei City




Video recorded on 6/17/202 at Da-an Forest Park, Taipei City

Chinese name:	翠翼鳩
English name:	Emerald Dove
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Chalcophaps indica
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	IUCN lists it as Least Concern, but Taiwan Council of Agriculture of Executive Yuan lists it as "Class II - Rare and Valuable Species".
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Fruits, seeds, shoots
Habitat:	Woodlands
Altitude:	Low to mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Appear alone in woodlands and parks. Often search the ground for fallen-down fruits and seeds.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: Wing is emerald. That's what the name comes from. Lowerpart, neck, back and the lower half of the face are brown. Tail is blackish brown. Bill and feet are pinkish red. For males, the upper face is white, and the head top and rear neck are gray. For females, plumage is similar to males', but darker. Only the eyebrow stripe is white and the rest of the head is brown. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Japan, mainland China, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Australia, Papua New Guinea, etc.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	6/17/2012
Location found:	Da-an Forest Park, Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Black-naped Monarch, 6/10/2012

Black-naped Monarch is Taiwan local bird, commonly seen in foliage forest at low to mid altitudes. Its plumage is mainly blue. Its cries are loud and high. Black-naped Monarches can be seen all year round in Taipei Botanical Garden. They are among the main bird species in Taipei Botanical Garden. Spring and summer are the breeding seasons. When guarding their nest, they are not scared of anything. They will chase the squirrel away from their nest, though they are about ten times smaller in size. It's kind of funny that the squirrel will run away like a coward when chased. Probably the squirrel is afraid of the sharp bill of the Monarch. Otherwise I can't see anything on the Monarch body that can be used as a weapon.


Male bird guarding the nest, photographed on 6/7/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden




Male bird guarding the nest, photographed on 6/10/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden




Male bird guarding the nest, photographed on 6/10/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden




Male bird guarding the nest, photographed on 6/10/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden




Female bird guarding the nest, photographed on 6/10/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden




Baby birds, photographed on 6/10/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden




Video recorded on 6/10/2012 at Taipei Botanical Garden

Chinese name:	黑枕藍鶲
English name:	Black-naped Monarch, Black-naped Blue Monarch
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Hypothymis azurea
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Musciapidae
Species status:	Taiwan Endemic subspecies
Conservation status:	Least Concern
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common in Taiwan
Foods:	insects
Habitat:	Woodlands
Altitude:	Low to mid-altitudes
Behavior:	Often appear alone in foliage forest.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 15 cm long. Male's head, neck, back and tail are blue, with a black nape. Male's belly is white. Female's head is grayish blue, and its back and tail are grayish brown. Summer Plumage: Winter Plumage: Similar species:
Breeding places:	India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Southeast Asia, mainland China, Taiwan, etc.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	6/7/2012, 6/10/2012
Location found:	Taipei Botanical Garden
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Greater Painted Snipe, 5/24/2012

Except running into a flock of Black-Winged Stilts in Dayuan of Taoyuan County on May 24, 2012, we also ran into this Greater Painted Snipe by surprise. This Greater Painted Snipe mixed in the flock of more than thirty Black-Winged Stilts, easy to be overlooked. It was so far away that I couldn't recognize it by naked eye. Greater Painted Snipe is native to Taiwan. How come this one mixed in a flock of migrants? I don't know. This is a day full of surprises.

According to information I obtained from internet, there are at least three species of Painted Snipes in the world. The full name for the Taiwanese Painted Snipe is Greater Painted Snipe with the scientific name Rostratula benghalensis. They are regionally common in Taiwan. There is another Painted Snipe called Australian Painted Snipe with the scientific name Rostratula australis, which is native to Australia. Australian Painted Snipes are listed as Endangered species by IUCN. Yet there is another Painted Snipe called South American Painted-snipe with the scientific name Rostratula semicollaris, which is a local species in South America. South American Painted Snipes are listed as Least Concern by IUCN.

Greater Painted Snipes look different from other birds in the Charadriiformes order. They also behave very different. For example, multiple males will share one female. Male, not female, is the one that raises babies. And females look more eye-catching than males, which is unusual in animal world.



Greater Painted Snipe, male, photographed on 5/24/2012, at Dayuan, Taoyuan County




Black-Winged Stilts vs. Greater Painted Snipe(male), photographed on 5/24/2012, at Dayuan, Taoyuan County




Greater Painted Snipe, female, photographed on 4/17/2012, at Beitou District, Taipei City

Chinese name:	彩鷸
English name:	Greater Painted Snipe, Painted Snipe
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Rostratula benghalensis
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Rostratulidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	IUCN lists it as Least Concern, but Taiwan lists it as very rare.
Migration status:	Taiwan local bird
Frequency of appearance:	Common in some places of Taiwan
Foods:	mollusks, insects
Habitat:	Wetlands, swamps, farm fields
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Appear alone or in flock in wetlands, farm fields, etc. Multiple males share one female. Male will raise babies. They are shy. Once being found, they will hide themselves immdediately behind the crop bushes.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: Female is about 24 cm long and is slightly larger than male. Female plumage is more eye-catching than male's, which is unusual in animal world. Summer Plumage: For males: Head top is greenish brown, neck and breast are reddish brown. Back is grayish brown. Lowerpart is mainly white, with vertical black stripes. Winter Plumage: Similar to summer plumage. Similar species:
Breeding places:	This species breeds in Africa and Asia. There is also one species called Australian Painted Snipe, which is Australian native and is listed by IUCN as Endangered species, with its scientific name Rostratula australis. Yet another species called South American Painted-snipe is native to South America, which is listed by IUCN as Least Concern species, with its scientific name Rostratula semicollaris.
Migration destinations:
Time photographed:	4/17/2012, 5/24/2012
Location found:	Beitou District of Taipei City, Dayuan of Taoyuan County
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Black-Winged Stilt, 5/24/2012

This time our original plan was to go to Bade City of Taoyuan County to photograph some Mandarin Ducks. Dayuan Township was not in our plan. But we didn't see any Mandarin Duck after we arrived in Bade City, so we turned our eye on Dayuan. It was late May, and the passage migrants should have been all gone. So we were kind of wondering in the maze of Dayuan's country roads, not expecting any migrant. To our surprise, after we made a turn on one country road, we ran into a large flock of Black-Winged Stilts, estimated about 30 of them, resting in a wet farm field. It was just like a gift from heaven! A miracle hidden behind the corner! Quickly we got off our car, positioned our cameras and began to shoot. There were over 30 of them. We could choose whichever one we like to shoot. This time we won't come back home empty-handed. At first glance, we didn't notice there were other waterfowls mixed inside the flock. After a while we found a Black-tailed Godwit, a Common Redshank, a Red Knot and a Painted Snipe, all mixed in the flock. It's kind of surprise after surprise. I felt like hitting the jackpot. If there was something imperfect in this, it's the birds were standing so close to the farm field ridge that the depth of field for the photographs was not deep enough, making the pictures look less charming. However, there is nothing really perfect in the world. Yet I felt like scoring a 10 out of 10 this time.

Black-Winged Stilts are either uncommon passage migrants or wintering birds in Taiwan. Their body is mainly black and white, with long slim pink feet, looking very eye-catching. What I used to photograph is a compact digital camera. I sincerely hope the pictures won't hurt your eye.















Black-Winged Stilt vs. Black-tailed Godwit vs. Red Knot vs. Common Redshank




Black-Winged Stilt vs. Painted Snipe












Video recorded on 5/24/2012, at Dayuan, Taoyuan County

Chinese name:	高蹺鴴
English name:	Black-Winged Stilt
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Himantopus himantopus
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Recurvirostridae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern.
Migration status:	Passage migrant or winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	mollusks, insects
Habitat:	Wetlands, swamps, outlets of rivers, mudflats of sea shores, wet farm fields, etc.
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear in flocks in mudflats of sea shores, wetlands, swamps, outlets of rivers and wet farm fields.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 37 cm long. Its long slim feet are pink. Plumage is mainly black and white. Bill is black and is straight and sharp. Summer Plumage: Head top and rear neck are black, which form a strong contrast against its white neck. Back and wing are black with a green reflection. The rest of the body is white. Winter Plumage: The black color on head top and rear neck either disappear or become grayish. The green reflection on the back disappear. Similar species:
Breeding places:	Widely spread in the world, with many species and subspecies. In Taiwan, they are either passage migrants or winter migratory birds, and some of them breed in Taiwan. Northern populations of this species breed in Europe, Asia and North America.
Migration destinations:	Northern populations of this species winter in tropical and subtropical area. Southern populations usually don't migrate. They spread out locally instead
Time photographed:	5/24/2012
Location found:	Dayuan, Taoyuan County
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Black-tailed Godwit, 5/18/2012

Last time on May 15th, 2012, I missed a chance to catch any image of a Black-tailed Godwit which appeared in Watzuwei Nature Reserve area. This time it is my main target. Other targets include the waterfowls which I had photographed but their pictures were out of focus. Luckily enough, when I arrived, the Black-tailed Godwit was still there. Unfortunately this time I didn't take the pictures well either. But fortunately, later on May 24th, another one appeared in Dayuan, Taoyuan County, and I took some better pictures out of that one. Since my camera is a compact digital camera, the pictures are still not good enough. I apologize if the pictures hurt your eye.

In Taiwan, Black-tailed Godwits are uncommon passage migrants. They are listed by IUCN(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) as "Near Threatened". They are not really that hard to be spotted here, since they pass by Taiwan every year on their way to their wintering destinations. This year they were spotted in Watzuwei Nature Reserve area of New Taipei City, Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park of Taipei City, Dayuan of Taoyuan County and Ilan County.


Black-tailed Godwit, photographed on 5/24/2012, at Dayuan, Taoyuan County



Black-tailed Godwit vs. Red Knot, photographed on 5/24/2012, at Dayuan, Taoyuan County



Black-Winged Stilt vs. Red Knot vs. Black-tailed Godwit, photographed on 5/24/2012, at Dayuan, Taoyuan County



Little Egret vs. Black-tailed Godwit vs. Great White Egret, photographed on 5/18/2012, at Watzuwei Nature Reserve area, Bali District, New Taipei City



Grey-tailed Tattlers and Black-tailed Godwit, photographed on 5/18/2012, at Watzuwei Nature Reserve area, Bali District, New Taipei City

Chinese name:	黑尾鷸
English name:	Black-tailed Godwit
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Limosa limosa
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Scolopacidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Near Threatened.
Migration status:	Passage migrant in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, mollusks
Habitat:	Wetlands, outlets of rivers, mudflats of sea shores
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear in flocks in mudflats of sea shores, wetlands, swamps, outlets of rivers and wet farm fields, and mixed with other Scolopacidae and Charadriidae birds.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 39 cm long. About the same size as Common Greenshank. Bill is long, starting with orange color and ending up black. The end of the tail is black. Feet are black. Summer Plumage: Head, neck and breast are reddish brown. Back is grayish brown. Lowerpart is mainly white, with vertical black stripes. Winter Plumage: A lighter version of Summer Plumage. Similar species:
Breeding places:	Ranging from Iceland to the Russian far east, including United Kingdom, Norway, Mongolia, northern China, Siberia, etc.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southern Europe, Africa, Middle East, Australasia, etc.
Time photographed:	5/18/2012, 5/24/2012
Location found:	Dayuan, Taoyuan County
Sources:	Internet
Notes:

Greater Sand Plover, 5/18/2012

Among the waterfowls I photographed in Watzuwei Nature Reserve area at Bali District of New Taipei City, one of them looks like a Greater Sand Plover, because there is no thin black line bordering in between its white neck and its chestnut breast, and the length of its bill looks longer than the distance from the root of its bill to the rear edge of its eye. Below I post some of its pictures. If you find anything wrong, please let me know. Thanks!



Photographed at Watzuwei Nature Reserve area, Bali District, New Taipei City




Photographed at Watzuwei Nature Reserve area, Bali District, New Taipei City




Red-necked Stint vs. Greater Sand Plover, photographed at Watzuwei Nature Reserve area, Bali District, New Taipei City

Chinese name:	鐵嘴鴴
English name:	Greater Sand Plover
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Charadrius leschenaultii
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Charadriidae
Species status:	Species
Conservation status:	Least Concern.
Migration status:	Common passage migrant or uncommon winter migratory bird in Taiwan
Frequency of appearance:	Common or uncommon in Taiwan
Foods:	Insects, mollusks
Habitat:	Wetlands, swamps, outlets of rivers, sea shores, sandbanks
Altitude:	Low altitude
Behavior:	Often appear alone or in flocks in wetlands, swamps, outlets of rivers and sea shores, and mixed with other Scolopacidae and Charadriidae birds.
Characteristics:	General Characteristics: About 22 cm long. Bill is black and is short. Feet are grayish green or yellowish green. Summer Plumage: Throat and neck are white. Nape and breast are chestnut. Belly is white. Head top is grayish brown. There are two white spots and one horizontal black stripe on forehead. Eyeline is black. Eyebrow stripe is white. Back, wing and tail are grayish brown. Winter Plumage: Similar to summer plumage, except that its Nape and breast are white, not chestnut. Similar species: Its plumage looks very similar to Lesser Sand Plover. The size of Greater Sand Plover is larger. The bill of Greater Sand Plover is longer, longer than the length from its lore to the rear edge of its eye. Unlike the Greater Sand Plover, the Lesser Sand Plover has a black line bordered between its white neck and its chestnut breast. The legs of Lesser Sand Plover are darker in color.
Breeding places:	Middle East, northeastern Asia.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southern Asia, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.
Time photographed:	5/18/2012
Location found:	Bali District, New Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes: