Greater Sand Plover

Anarhynchus leschenaultii (Lesson, RP, 1826)

Greater Sand Plover, Anarhynchus leschenaultii, breeds in inland parts of western to eastern Asia, from Turkey to eastern Mongolia, and spends the non-breeding season on coasts from eastern and southern Africa to the Ryukyu Islands, Australia, Melanesia and western Micronesia. It is a plover in the family Charadriidae. The species is a chunky, long-legged bird with a thick bill, and breeding males show sandy buff upperparts and white underparts. In summer, the breast, forehead and nape can be orange, with a black mask around the eye. The female is duller, while winter and young birds are browner.

Order

Charadriiformes

Family

Charadriidae — Plovers

Breeding range

Palearctic: inland w to ec Asia: Turkey to e Mongolia

Nonbreeding range

coastal e, s Africa to s Ryukyu Is. (=Nansei Shoto; s Japan), Australia, Melanesia and w Micronesia