Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Common residents in Britain with 5,300 breeding pairs.

Also breeds in Ireland & North America.

Winters in South Africa.

Adults have grey-brown back and wings, a white belly, and a white breast with one black neckband.

They have a brown cap, a white forehead, a black mask around the eyes and a short orange and black bill.

Juveniles are are duller than the adults in colour, with an often incomplete grey-brown breast band, a dark bill and dull yellowish-grey legs.

They differ from the smaller Little Ringed Plover in leg colour, the head pattern, and the lack of an obvious yellow eye-ring.

The call is a soft, high-pitched, whistling call often described as a sharp “peep” or “wee-oo” sound.