Greater sand-plover

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About Greater sand-plover:

It is known for long distance migration.
Appearance:
- It is a medium-sized plover with a long hefty bill.
- Breeding 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.”
- Additionally, unlike some Lesser Sand-Plovers, Greater never has a black boundary around the throat.
It breeds in high-elevation areas, where it favors arid, open habitats, sometimes near water. Winters on coastal mudflats and estuaries.
It breeds during April to May in central Asia, late March to late May in Turkey and upto late June in Armenia.
It winters on the shores of Indian and Australian Oceans after the breeding.
Diet: The bird’s diet consists of beetles, worms, crustaceans, molluscs, other insects and their larvae.
Habitat: Mudflats and sandy shores.
Behaviour/Ecology: Associates with other feeding shorebirds, especially Lesser Sand Plover.
Conservation status
- IUCN: Least Concern

Q1) What is IUCN?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is one of the world’s most influential and respected organizations in the field of conservation and environmental protection.

Source: Coimbatore’s Kurichi tank turns home to long distance migrant bird Greater sand-plover