The Oriental Plover, Charadrius veredus , also known as the Oriental Dotterel , is a medium-sized Charadriine plover closely related to the Caspian Plover
Description
Adult male in breeding plumage: white face, throat and fore-crown; grey-brown hind-crown, hind-neck and back; belly white, demarcated with narrow black band and then broad chestnut breast band merging into white throat.
Female, juvenile and non-breeding male: generally grey-brown upperparts and white belly; pale face with white streak above eye.
Measurements: length 21-25 cm; wingspan 46-53 cm; weight 95 g.
Distribution
Breeds in Mongolia, eastern Russia and Manchuria; migrates through eastern China and South-East Asia to Indonesia and Australia. Rare in New Guinea; straggler to New Zealand.
Habitat
Breeding habitat: deserts, arid grasslands and saltpans. Non-breeding habitat: grasslands, salt-fields and coastal areas.
Food
Mainly insects.
Breeding
Not well known.
Conservation
With a large range and no evidence of significant population decline, this species’ conservation status is of Least Concern.
