Little ringed Plover

Photo courtesy: ebird.org

       Introduction of Little ringed Plover

        The little ringed plover (Scientific name: Charadrius dubius) is a small plover. It is included in the Order Charadriiformes  and it's Family is Charadriidae

         How to identify Little ringed Plover

       Little ringed Plover is a small bird of length 14-16 cm. Weight is around 40 g and wingspan is 45 cm. Average lifespan is 4 years. Color of back and wings of adult Little ringed plovers is grey-brown, lower parts i.e a belly and  breast are white. The male has a black band which is broader  on the breast. White chin and throat  has extended to white collar above the black one. It has  a brown cap,  forehead is white and there is a black mask around the eyes with white above. The bill is black and short. The colors of eyes are dark brown and there is a  conspicuous bright yellow eyering. Legs and feet are pinkish and the toes are all webbed. Narrow, indistinct whitish wing stripe are visible while in flight . One can differentiate Little ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)  from Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) by bright yellow eyering (adults), only faint wing-bars, long tertials (covering the primaries) and slimmer more elongated body shape.  Both male and female are alike. Juveniles has  faint wing-bars. Supercilium  especially behind the eye is also light. lower portion of "mask" is pointed and it's bill is slimmer in comparison to adults.

          Habits and Habitats

       This birds are found in small numbers at  riverbanks, tidal mudflats, estuaries, lake edges often along with other shorebirds but rarely out on open tidal areas. It Runs on ground, on mud and drying jheels. They  walk with characteristic bobbing gait, picking food from ground.  When approached close, flies rapidly, low over ground, zigzag flight accompanied by a whistling note.

           Distribution

      This Plovers are resident and local migrant. They are found throughout area south from Himalayan foothills. It has three recognized subspecies as bellows.
       Subspecies
          Charadrius dubius curonicus  - This subspecies ranges from Eurasia, Russian Fareast, Japan, Korea, China to North Africa. In winter it migrate to Sahara, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and China.
         Charadrius dubius jerdoni  - This subspecies ranges from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan to South East Asia.
         Charadrius dubius dubius - This subspecies ranges from the Philippines, New Guinea to Bismarck Archipelago.

                Food
     These birds search food  on muddy areas. They eat insects and worms and tiny crabs.
               Call 
      Call of Little ringed Plover are a two syllable "krrll-uuit" with a rising pitch or just a sharp, rolling "krrri-krrri". Also a longer rolling "krree-looo" with pitch rising in first syllable and falling in the second. It's call is quite different from Ringed Plover lacking Ringed's soft tone often starts with a rolling "r".

         Breeding and Nesting

        This bird like  open gravel areas near freshwater, including gravel pits, islands and river edges as it's breeding habitat.  Little ringed Plover make their nest in a shallow depression in sand or gravel.  Nesting  material used are Shells, pine needles, straw fragments etc. are used as nesting  material.
Breeding season is May. Female lays generally four  4 eggs.  Both males and females take part incubating the eggs. Incubation period is 22–28 days. Fledglings learn to fly within 21–32 days.