adult

adult in flight European distribution adult

Identification

Ringed Plovers can be told from Little Ringed Plovers by their larger size, pot-bellied appearance, bolder mannerisms and the lack of a yellow eye ring. Additionally, the adults have a thick black and yellow bill and brighter orange legs. Juveniles have a less uniform head pattern than a young Little Ringed Plover, including a broad pale mark behind the eye and a more obvious pale forehead. Ringed Plovers show an obvious pale wing bar in flight, unlike Little Ringed Plovers.

Habitat

Breeds on shingle or sand by the coast and occasionally on inland sites such as gravel pits. In Lapland it often nests on gravel roadsides. Winters on estuary mudflats and muddy beaches.

Behaviour

Performs an impressive 'distraction display' in which one of the adults pretends to be injured and seems to be staggering along with a damaged wing. This distracts the attention of a predator which is then led away from the nest or the chicks. Then when the predator tries to pounce, the adult flies away to safety.

Migration

Birds from north-east Canada migrate across the Atlantic to winter in west Africa, passing through Iceland, Greenland and western Europe between August-September, before returning to their breeding grounds in May. Those which breed in northern Europe also winter mainly in Africa, leaving between August-September and returning April-May. British birds are mostly sedentary. Birds from central Europe migrate south and west in Autumn to join the sedentary birds in countries such as Britain.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Ringed Plover is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Rossall Pt, Lancs 24/07/2010	Newcastle, Down 25/07/2010	Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey 18/07/2010	Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey 18/07/2010	Reykhola, Vestfirðir (Westfjords), Iceland 09/07/2010
Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 09/07/2010	Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk 09/07/2010	Salthouse, Norfolk 05/07/2010	Salthouse, Norfolk 05/07/2010	Clauchlands Pt, Arran, Clyde Is. 30/06/2010

 View all pictures of Ringed Plover

Ringed Plover breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Belarus
Belgium
Britain
Denmark
Estonia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Germany
Greenland
Iceland
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Russia
Svalbard
Sweden
Ukraine

http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/results/bob4700.htm   BTO BirdFacts: Ringed Plover	Edit this link
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	BTO: Little Ringed and Ringed Plover Breeding Survey 2007	Tuesday 17th April 2007
	During 2007, the British Trust for Ornithology is organising a UK-wide survey of breeding Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers. Find out more about the survey and how to take part.   read on

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