The Lesser Sand Plover, Charadrius mongolus, is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The spelling is commonly given as Lesser Sandplover, but the official British Ornithologists' Union spelling is Lesser Sand Plover.

Taxonomy:

There are five races, and the large east Asian forms, C. m. mongolus and C. m. stegmanni, are sometimes given specific status as Mongolian Plover, Charadrius mongolus. If the taxonomic split is accepted, Lesser Sandplover as then defined becomes Charadrius atrifrons, including the three races atrifrons, pamirensis and schaeferi.

Class: Aves

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Charadriidae

Genus: Charadrius

Species: C. mongolus

Binomial name: Charadrius mongolus (Pallas, 1776)

Subspecies: Charadrius mongolus pamirensis

Charadrius mongolus atrifrons

Charadrius mongolus schaeferi

Charadrius mongolus mongolus

Charadrius mongolus stegmanni

Distribution:

The Lesser Sand Plover breeds in central and north eastern Asia, migrating further south for winter. In Australia the species is found around the entire coast but is most common in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and along the east coast of Queensland and northern NSW.

Physical Characteristics:

The non-breeding Lesser Sand Plover has a grey-brown crown, nape, back and breast patches. The forehead, lores, bill and upperwing are dark; ear coverts are dusky. There is prominent white plumage on the forehead, chin, throat and underparts, including the underwing. The Lesser Sand Plover is distinguished from the Greater Sand Plover by a smaller body with a more upright stance, more compact appearance and dark grey, rather than greenish legs. When breeding in the Northern Hemisphere, the plumage on the breast, crown and nape changes to a dull brick-red and the ear coverts become black. The brick-red breast is separated from the white throat by a narrow black line. Elements of this plumage may be visible in some Australian birds just after arrival in spring or prior to departure in autumn, and in some overwintering birds.

Habitat:

Mongolian Plovers prefer to forage on tidal mudflats, particularly in the soft mud between the tides. But they may also forage on drier mudbanks. They are rarely found far inland. They may forage at night. While they feed, Mongolian Plovers are rather scattered, especially at low tide. But they migrate and roost in large numbers, sometimes with other waders.

Diet:

Mongolian Plovers feed on small invertebrates such as worms, crabs and bivalves. During breeding, they feed on insects.

Behavior:

Mongolian Plovers are powerful travelers. From their northerly breeding grounds, they winter on the coasts and estuaries around the Indian Ocean and South-west Pacific (Africa, India, Sumatra to the Greater Sundas and Australia). There are 5 races which take different migration routes. Those visiting Singapore generally breed in Central or Northeast Asia. Mongolian Plovers usually winter on muddy and sandy coasts, and occasionally at inland wetlands or on cultivated grounds. On migrations and on wintering grounds, they are found in large numbers, sometimes mixing with Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii), which they closely resemble. In Singapore, they come in groups of about 70. They adopt partial breeding plumage before leaving their wintering grounds. Unlike other plovers which use the run-and-peck method, the Mongolian uses the "sewing-machine" feeding action more commonly used by sandpipers. This action aptly describes the way they incessantly probe with their bills for titbits.

Breeding:

Mongolian Plovers breed discontinuously, in areas across east Asia from the Himalayas to North East Siberia, rarely in Alaska. Like other plovers, Mongolian Plovers nest on the open ground, sometimes besides bushes or large stones. They dig shallow hollows, or use cattle footprints, and line these with pebbles or bits of plants. In the Himalayas, they nest above or beyond the tree-line, at altitudes of up to 5,500m. But on Siberia on coastal shingle or sand dunes. 2-3 eggs are laid, and both parents incubate (22-24 days) and raise the young. But sometimes only the male raises the young. They fledge at 30-35 days.