Medium-sized plover with a proportionally large head and heavy bill. Relatively thin body. Relatively long legs and especially long tibia (upper half of visible leg.) Alternate Adult: Small white patch on forehead and throat with black lores; auriculars form a mask through the eye, black band connects across the forecrown. Rufous crown and nape flow into a complete rufous breast band. Plain sandy-brown upperparts. Plain white underparts. Dark legs. Basic Adult: Similar to breeding, but rufous and black are replaced by sandy-brown. Breast band sometimes incomplete. May show very narrow pale fringes on scapulars and wing coverts. Juvenile: Similar to Basic, but crisp pale fringes on scapular and covert feathers are more conspicuous. Breast band usually incomplete. Nearly identical Lesser Sand Plover is slightly smaller, shorter-billed, and in Alternate Adults the rufous breast band trails down on to the upper flanks.

Length: 21 (cm) Wingspan: 56 (cm)

Habitat:

Large dry mud or salt-flats. Beaches, mudflats, grasslands and shallow water.

Behavior:

Forages using run-stop-pluck-run style.

Feeding:

Diet consists of insects and crustaceans.