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.