Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Other Names

  Common Ringed Plover, Greater Ringed Plover   Pluvier grand-gravelot   Sandregenpfeifer   Chorlitejo Grande   Större strandpipare   Bontbekplevier   Corriere grosso

World: From NE Canada E throughIceland, Greenland, Scandinavia and across N Russia. Winters S through Britain, France, Caspian Sea region, SW Asia and through to S Africa.

Kenya: Passage migrant and winter visitor to all types of water but particularly common around the Rift Valley lakes and along the coast.

Normally found in small loose groups with other waders. It feeds on small invertebrates including crustaceans, worms, molluscs, beetles and other insects, as well as millipedes. It has 2 feeding methods, it mostly runs rapidly across the mud stopping abruptly to pick up food items. It will also use "foot-trembling" to stir up food. Although it mostly feeds on the mud it will also feed in short grass. Ringed Plovers roost communally on bare or sparsely covered ground close to their feeding areas.