The greater sand plover is a small wader in the plover family of birds. The spelling is often given as "greater sandplover" or "greater sand-plover", but the official IOC and British Ornithologists' Union spelling is "Greater Sand Plover". The specific leschenaultii commemorates the French botanist Jean Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour. Like most other species in the genus Anarhynchus, it was until recently included in the genus Charadrius.
Region
Central Asia to Indo-Pacific coasts
Typical Environment
Breeds across arid and semi-arid zones from Turkey and the Middle East through Iran and Central Asia (including Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) to western China and Mongolia. In the non-breeding season it occurs along coasts of East Africa, the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and north to northern Australia. Prefers open, stony or sandy flats near water for breeding, and extensive tidal mudflats, sandy beaches, and salt pans in winter. Often uses estuaries, lagoons, and sheltered bays with broad intertidal zones.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2500 m
Climate Zone
Arid
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The Greater Sand Plover is a long‑distance migrant that breeds on arid plains of West and Central Asia and winters along warm coastlines from East Africa to Australia. It has a distinctly heavier, thicker bill than the similar Lesser Sand Plover, which helps in identification. Breeding males show a rufous cap and breast band with a contrasting white forehead and dark mask; non‑breeders are plainer gray‑brown above and white below. It forages with a characteristic run‑pause‑peck routine on open flats.
Temperament
social and active
Flight Pattern
swift, low over water with rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Often forms loose flocks on coastal flats outside the breeding season, sometimes mixing with other small shorebirds. On breeding grounds pairs nest in shallow scrapes on open stony or sandy terrain and defend a small territory. Both parents typically share incubation and chick care.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
More a caller than a singer; gives sharp, whistled notes and piping 'tu-it' calls, especially in flight. Alarm calls are clear and carry over long distances on open flats.
Plumage
Breeding males show a rufous cap and nape, white forehead, dark mask, and a warm rufous breast band; females and non-breeding birds are sandy gray-brown above with clean white underparts. The bill is short, thick, and black; legs are pale gray-green. Overall appearance is compact with a relatively large head and stout bill.
Diet
Feeds mainly on small invertebrates, including marine worms, small crabs and other crustaceans, bivalves, and insects such as beetles and flies. Uses a run‑stop‑peck strategy and occasionally probes soft substrates. Will take prey by sight on drier flats and by picking on wet mud or sand. Opportunistic along tidelines and around shallow pools.
Preferred Environment
Forages on intertidal mudflats, sandy beaches, salt pans, and estuary margins. During breeding it feeds on open, sparsely vegetated plains near lakes, rivers, or saline flats.
