General

Common Ringed Plover (Palau): Plump little plover with dark gray-brown upperparts, pure white underparts, and strong black mask and chest band. Base of dark-tipped bill and legs are bright orange. Frequents mudflats. Eats worms, aquatic insects, crustaceans and mollusks. Direct flight with rapid wing beats.

Breeding and Nesting

Common Ringed Plover (Palau): Lays three or four buff eggs, lightly spotted with brown and black, in a simple scrape on the ground. Both parents incubate for 21 to 27 days. Chicks feed themselves but are guarded by parents until they can fly at 24 days old.

Foraging and Feeding

Common Ringed Plover (Palau): Searches for insects and aquatic invertebrates on moist beaches, mudflats, and shorelines. Walks forward several steps, pauses, then walks several more steps or dashes to catch prey.

Vocalization

Common Ringed Plover (Palau): Common call is "tu-weea," while flight call is a far-carrying "tu-weea." When breeding call phrases get longer and more complex, such as "tu-wee-uh."

Similar Species

Little Ringed Plover is smaller, has a black upper mandible, and yellow eyering. Greater Sandplover is larger and has a rufous breast band.