Charadrius alexandrinus - Kentish Plover
Feather characters. Barbules are rather short (0.8-1.0 mm) and divided into pigmented nodes and partly pigmented (less than 50%) internodes. Vase-shaped nodes are equally distributed along the entire length of barbules (28-32 per mm). They are all about the same size, slightly decreasing towards distal end. Villi are absent and internodes are straight. Prongs are absent. Occasionally some minute prongs may be found on distal end of barbules.
Field characters. Size 16 cm. Weight 41 g (37.0-49.0) (Dunning, 1993). Differs from Great Ringed and Little Ringed Plover in paler upperparts, black bill and legs, less extensive black markings on head, and small dusky patches on sides of breast (instead of full pectoral band). Male with white forehead and black mark on forecrown; rest of crown and nape orange-rufous; narrow black line through eye with white line above it. Female lacks dark mark on forecrown and rufous crown; breast patches and band through eye dusky brown. In flight, shows a narrow white wing-bar as in Great Ringed Plover, but upperparts paler and sides of dark tail white. Outside the breeding season both sexes duller and male without rufous crown. Juvenile with dark legs and without obvious chest-patches; upperparts grey-brown, forehead white.
Voice. Common call is a quiet "wit-wit-wit" and a whistling "poo-eet"; alarm call "kittup". Song is a slurred trill.
Distribution. Scarce breeding bird. Map: see MapIt.
Habitat. Primarily a bird of shingly and sandy beaches or flats, mainly along sea coast but also in suitable inland habitats.
Food. Feeding method involves running, stopping, and pecking. Feeds on insects, crustaceans, worms, and molluscs.