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: