RSPB
Skip navigation

Conservation status: Amber

The ringed plover is a small, dumpy, short-legged wading bird. It is brownish grey above and whitish below. It has a orange bill, tipped with black, orange legs and a black-and-white pattern on its head and breast. In flight it shows a broad white wing-stripe. Breeds on beaches around the coast, but has also now breeding inland in sand and gravel pits and former industrial sites. Many UK birds live here all year round, but birds from Europe winter in Britain and birds from Greenland and Canada pass through on migration.

Overview

Latin name

Charadrius hiaticula

Family

Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae)

Where to see them

You can see this species on suitable beaches and coasts around the UK - look for it at RSPB coastal reserves. Inland, look for it at flooded gravel pits.

When to see them

All year round

What they eat

Flies, spiders, marine worms, crustaceans, molluscs

Population

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-8,540 pairs34,000 birds-

Distribution

Key

Illustrations

Audio

Marco Dragonetti, Xeno-canto

Characteristics

Ringed plover (breeding)

Ringed plover - breeding plumage
  • Size: between robin-blackbird
  • Feather colours: brown, black, white, cream/buff
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey, orange
  • Beak length: medium
  • Beak thickness: medium
  • Leg colour: orange
  • Behaviour: part of flock, on ground, bird walks/runs on the ground

Ringed plover (juvenile)

Ringed plover - juvenile
  • Colouring: Juvenile
  • Size: between robin-blackbird
  • Feather colours: brown, white, cream/buff
  • Beak colours: black/dark grey, brown/buff
  • Beak length: medium
  • Beak thickness: medium
  • Leg colour: pink/flesh, orange
  • Behaviour: part of flock, on ground, bird walks/runs on the ground