Little Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover: Small, slim plover with brown upperparts and white collar. Bill, lores, forehead, auriculars, and breast band dark, contrasting with white forecrown and white bar behind the dark crown. Conspicuous eye-ring is yellow; legs are dull pink-yellow. Does not show wing bar in flight.
● Song:
"pee-oo", "pip"
● Foraging & Feeding:
Little Ringed Plover: Feeds on insects, spiders, and crustaceans found on tidal mud flats, shallow flood pools, open short grasslands, or even bare soil. Hesitant stop-run-peck, in a hunched position, usually higher up on the shore on drier sand or mud.
● Breeding & nesting:
Little Ringed Plover: Nests mainly on gravelly river banks, lake shores, or small islands, usually near fresh water. Lays four pale yellow eggs with small dark spots. Usually solitary, some may be semi-colonial with about 30 feet between nests. Uses "broken wing" feint to distract predators from eggs or chicks. Young fledge in 24-29 days.
● Similar species:
Little Ringed Plover: Common Ringed Plover and Semipalmated Plover are larger, lack yellow eye ring, have wider breast band, orange-yellow legs and feet, and orange bill with black tip.