Lesser Sand Plover, 5/18/2012

In Taiwan, Lesser Sand Plovers are common passage migrants or uncommon wintering birds. I have taken their pictures at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park in Taipei City, Watzuwei Nature Reserve at Bali District in New Taipei City, and Dayuan in Taoyuan County.  From far away, it's not easy to distinguish them from Kentish Plovers, since both sizes are about the same. Moreover, it's even harder to distinguish them from Greater Sand Plovers, because they both look almost the same. Their difference is as below. First, unlike the Greater Sand Plover, the Lesser Sand Plover has a black line bordered between its white neck and its chestnut breast.. Second, the bill of the Greater Sand Plover is longer, longer than the length from its lore to the rear edge of its eye. The third, the legs of the Lesser Sand Plover are darker in color. And finally, the size of  the Greater Sand Plover is larger, which is not obvious if both of them don't stand side by side.

Photographed on 5/18/2012 at Watzuwei Nature Reserve area, Bali District, New Taipei City


Lesser Sand Plovers vs. Kentish Plover, photographed on 5/26/2012 at Dayuan, Taoyuan County


Photographed on 5/26/2012 at Dayuan, Taoyuan County


Grey-tailed Tattlers vs. Lesser Sand Plover, photographed at Dayuan, Taoyuan County


Video recorded on 5/13/2012, at Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park, Taipei City

Chinese name:	蒙古鴴
English name:	Lesser Sand Plover, Mogolian Plover
Nickname:
Scientific name:	Charadrius mongolus
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 19 cm long. 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. Bill is black and is short. Feet are dark green. Winter Plumage: Similar species: Its plumage looks very similar to Greater 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 side 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 is darker.
Breeding places:	Middle East, northeastern Asia.
Migration destinations:	Wintering in southern Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Time photographed:	5/13/2012, 5/18/2012, 5/26/2012
Location found:	Watzuwei Nature Reserve area in Bali District of New Taipei City, Dayuan of Taoyuan County, Huajiang Wild Duck Nature Park of Taipei City
Sources:	Internet
Notes: