Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Etymology: 

• Charadrius : Greek word kharadrios for unknown plain-coloured nocturnal bird that dwelt in ravines and river valleys
• Hiaticula : Latin word hiatus –cleft; cola-dweller

 Vernacular Names : Mar: Motha Kantheri Chikhlya

Distribution in India:  Widespread Winter Visitor in Indian Coast. 

Details : Size of  18–20 cm; 42–78 g; wingspan 48–57 cm. It lacks basal web between middle and inner toes, and has slightly broader breastband, larger white supercilium and clearer yellow eyering.

The Female has breastband and ear-coverts tinged brown on sides.

Distinct non-breeding plumage absent in nominate race.

The Juvenile resembles pale adult with buffy fringes, but these soon lost; no black; narrow or broken frontal part of breastband.

Habitat: It is found in coast on sand or shingle beaches, sandbanks and mudflats, estuaries and, occasionally, rivers, lakes, lagoons, saltmarshes, short grassland, flooded fields and some artificial habitats like gravel pits, reservoirs, farmland and playing fields. It also occurs on tundra and breeds up to 1200 m.

Food habits:  It eats crustaceans, molluscs, polychaete worms, isopods, amphipods, various insects and millipedes. It sometimes uses foot-trembling. It is found typically in small flocks of up to 50. It  forages by day and night, often on tidal flats.

Breeding habits: They breed in Apr to mid Jul . they are seasonally monogamous; pair-bond occasionally maintained over successive years. They are in solitary or in loose neighborhood groups. Participation of third bird in incubation and chick-rearing can be seen. The nest a shallow scrape, lined with pebbles, debris and pieces of vegetation, occasionally in covered or well-shaded sites. They lay a clutch of 3–5 eggs , laid at intervals of 1–3 days. Up to four replacement clutches laid after loss. There are 2–3 broods. The incubation is 21–27 days, by both parents, starting with last or penultimate egg. The chick is pale buffy grey finely mottled with dusky and some cinnamon-buff above, white underparts, with blackish bordering band. The fledging period is. 24 days. The young are  independent soon after.