A small, large-billed plover of coastal areas. Alternate Adult male has single black breastband, white throat and forehead, dark face and crown, pale supercilium, long and thick black bill, white underparts, sandy-brown upperparts, and grayish-orange legs. Basic Adult has diffuse brown breastband and lacks black on head; pattern is similar to other small plovers, but note huge bill and proportionately short wings.

Length: 20 (cm) Wingspan: 48 (cm)

Voice:

High, sharp, whistled flight calls; also harsh scolding notes.

Habitat:

Sandy beaches and dry, barren soil.

Behavior:

Moves slowly and deliberately across beaches. Nest is a scrape in sand or dry soil. Sometimes forms small flocks, occasionally with other shorebirds.

Feeding:

Forages in sandy areas by sight, picking up a variety of small crabs, insects, worms, and other aquatic organisms.