What Plover?

[Bobby Kintanar]

Looking thru my old files before Zipping them for back-up, I came across this fellow. I remeber taking this shot at Olango:



I think I got the ID wrong back then, calling it a Greater Sand Plover; comparing it witht the KG Plates, it looks more like a Kentish Plover to me.

Can the experts verify or debunk my observation please?

Thanks again! :-)

[Romy Ocon]

Nice low angle, Bobby.... but plovers are tough IDs, so this is a job for SuperSteve P. ;D

[steve pryor]

Yes, as I have stated many times - Shorebirds are certainly not my forte, but I can usually dice out the Charadrius. Will look tonight.

[steve pryor]

Hi Bobby,
Have now had time to look. You are right. Both the leschenaultii, and the mongolus can be eliminated by, among other things, the presence of the blackish half-collar. The confusion species with this bird, is the peronii. However, the peronii has legs that get as dark only as much as a sort of light greyish-black. The legs of this bird are decidedly black. The bill is of little help though that of peronii is generally considered shorter, thicker at the base and tapering respect to alexandrinus, there are individual variations both in this general shape and in total bill length and there might be a certain possible individual overlap in total bill length. This bird is certainly a non-breeding alexandrinus, almost surely an adult male non-breeding judging from the visibly blackish cast of the incomplete pectoral band. A note: for some reason the KG decided to illustrate only the nominate race alexandrinus (perhaps because it is that bird which is found on Luzon). This bird which is race dealbatus has respect to the nominate race alexandrinus - a longer bill, and in many cases, as here, the conspicuous blackish (or brownish) lores are not so evident.

[Bobby Kintanar]

Thanks a lot of r the information Sir Steve - what would we ever do without you! :-)