Charadrius leschenaultii ( Greater Sandplover - Ερημοσφυριχτής )
The Greater Sandplover (Charadrius leschenaultii) is a medium-sized wader in the plover family (Charadriidae). It is found in a variety of coastal and inland habitats, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Africa during migration and wintering periods.
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| Vasos Vasiliou - March |
Identification
- Size: Around 22–25 cm in length, with a wingspan of about 50–60 cm.
- Plumage:
- Breeding plumage: Males have a distinctive rufous (orange-brown) breast, white underparts, and a brownish-grey back.
- Non-breeding plumage: Duller, with pale greyish-brown upperparts and a white underside.
- Beak: Black, short, and stout.
- Legs: Long and greyish-green.
- Eyes: Dark and round.
Habitat & Distribution
- Breeding Grounds: Central Asia, including regions in Turkey, Mongolia, and western China. It nests in dry, open, and often stony areas.
- Wintering Areas: Migrates to coastal regions of the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Australia, favoring mudflats, estuaries, sandy beaches, and lagoons.
- Migration: A long-distance migratory species, traveling thousands of kilometers between breeding and wintering grounds.
Behavior & Diet
- Feeding: Feeds on insects, crustaceans, worms, mollusks, and other small invertebrates, often using a quick run-and-pause hunting technique.
- Nesting: Builds a simple scrape on the ground, where it lays 2–4 eggs. Both parents take part in incubation.
- Call: A sharp "krrrip" or "chip" sound, often heard when alarmed or in flight.
Conservation Status
- IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC), but habitat degradation due to coastal development and climate change could pose future threats.
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| Marios Filippou |
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| Marios Filippou |
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