Elegantly patterned with a black breast band and white face; often seen in small flocks on inland plains.
Not listed
Endemic to Australia
Indigenous: Bundabul, Didar Djerap
At a glance
FamilyPlovers and Lapwings
SizeMedium
RarityCommon
HabitatThey are rarely found in northern Australia and are uncommon in most coastal areas and they are not dependent on wetlands and may live far away from water.
Best timeMost reliable in New South Wales from September to October.
Sounds
Sound sampleRecorded by Marc Anderson
Range map
Range map
200approx hotspots
25220approx records
7states
Low confidenceMediumHigh confidence
Aggregated occurance data is sourced from 14 different actively-updating datasets including eBird Australia, iNaturalist Australia, BirdLife Australia, and multiple state-based bird surveys through Atlas of Living Australia.
Species notes
Overview
Smaller and shorter-legged than Masked Lapwing. Not generally an urban bird, it is more common inland.
Behavior
In more coastal areas it tends to be limited to areas with very short grass (e.g., airports, turf farms).
Gallery
Regional timing
Western Australia
Queensland
New South Wales
Tasmania
South Australia
Victoria
Northern Territory
Australian Capital Territory
Commonly confused with
Hooded PloverThinornis cucullatusSmall sturdy plover with pink legs and red eyering. Adult has black hood that extends down onto the chin. In western Australia it is also found on saline lakes.→Greater Sand-PloverAnarhynchus leschenaultiiBreeding adults have a dark mask and orangish chest, neck, and forehead; females duller than males. Non-breeding birds and immatures are sandy brown above and white below, with a white throat and “eyebrows.” Often confused with Lesser Sand-Plover, and best distinguished when both present; look for larger size, heavier and longer bill, paler legs, and larger-headed appearance. Additionally, unlike some Lesser Sand-Plovers, Greater never has a black boundary around the throat. Winters on coastal mudflats and estuaries.→Double-banded PloverAnarhynchus bicinctusSmall migratory plover. Widespread in New Zealand breeding on braided rivers on both the North and South Islands. Nonbreeding birds more difficult to distinguish from other similar plovers: look for pale hindcollar, buff color on face, and two diffuse gray-brown streaks extending onto the breast from near the bend of the wing. This species also has shorter legs and a shorter, thinner bill than Greater and Lesser Sand Plovers.→