Features& Description
The Common Ringed Plover, from its Latin name Charadrius hiaticula, is a small shorebird with a wingspan of around 40 cm.
Recognizable by its black collar, white belly contrasting with its gray plumage, orange legs and orange beak with black tip, the Great Gravelot is a stocky, bulbous-breasted bird. In breeding plumage, the male wears a black band on his forehead above a white spot on his bill.
Habitat(Biotope)
The Common Ringed Plover is found on the flat, open shores and banks of lakes and ponds, with open grasslands and sandy areas, interspersed with gravel and shell debris.
Behavior& habits
The Common Ringed Plover flies with a rapid, sustained wingbeat.
Often in groups, it can be seen running rapidly along the water’s edge to find small aquatic invertebrates and insects in the pebbles and sand. It performs sprints alternating with pauses for observation.
Reproductionand immature
The Common Ringed Plover nests on the ground on gravel or pebbles (the eggs have the same appearance).
The female may lay 1 to 4 eggs, which hatch after 4 weeks.
The young leave the nest as soon as they are born and fly away after 24 days.
Cryor Voice
The Common Ringed Plover’s typical contact call is a soft whistling “tu-ip”. In case of alarm, the call is more of a chirping “tihp”. Its song alternates between “ti-tou-é, ti-tou-é ti-tou-é” and “t’viia-t-viia”, particularly during the breeding season.
Great Gravelot Brigitte
Great Gravelot
