Diademed Sandpiper-Plover

Phegornis mitchellii

The Diademed Sandpiper-Plover is a small wader found in the high Andes of South America. It has a distinctive black and white plumage, with a striking diadem pattern on its head. This species is well-adapted to its alpine habitat, where it forages for insects and invertebrates in moist grassy areas near streams and lakes. The Diademed Sandpiper-Plover is known for its elusive behavior, often running quickly across the ground and freezing in place to avoid detection. Due to its remote and inaccessible habitat, this species is not well-studied and much of its behavior and ecology remains a mystery.

Habitat: Alpine grasslands near streams and lakes