This light-colored little plover is found on both sandy beaches and on inland alkali flats and salt pans. In all plumages, the bill is thin and black, and the legs are dark gray. Alternate Adult: Upperparts are pale gray-brown, the color of dry sand. Small black patches occur on the forecrown, auriculars, and at the sides of the breast. The underparts are white. Basic Adult: Pattern similar to Alternate, but black patches replaced by same sandy gray-brown as the rest of the upperparts. Juvenile: In fresh plumage, upperparts show pale feather edges which form a scaly pattern. These wear off, leaving the juvenile nearly identical to a Basic Adult. Legs may be lighter than those of adults. In flight: Shows a bold white wing stripe. Outer tail feathers are white.

Length: 15 (cm) Wingspan: 33 (cm)

Voice:

Calls include a rolled prit, and a husky whistled ku-WEET.

Habitat:

Sandy beaches, alkali flats, salt pans.

Behavior:

Typically runs from intruder, rather than flying.

Feeding:

Picks terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates from surface of the sand or from very shallow water.