Wildlifeof Malaysia
Greater Sand Plover
Shorebirds
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 (May be cropped or resized)
Anarhynchus leschenaultii
Basic stats
Habitat
Semi-desert when breeding; sandy beaches in winter
Range
Breeds from Turkey through Central Asia; winters in East Africa, South Asia and Australasia
The greater sand plover is a small plover that breeds in the semi-deserts of Turkey and eastwards through Central Asia, nesting in a bare ground scrape. It is strongly migratory, wintering on sandy beaches in East Africa, South Asia and Australasia. Three subspecies are recognised, differing in bill size and in the strength of the orange breast band in summer. It was until recently placed in the genus Charadrius (Wikipedia, general species account).
The species name commemorates the French botanist Jean Baptiste Leschenault de la Tour (Wikipedia, general species account).
Quick answers
- What habitat does the Greater Sand Plover live in?
- Semi-desert when breeding; sandy beaches in winter
- Where is the Greater Sand Plover found?
- Breeds from Turkey through Central Asia; winters in East Africa, South Asia and Australasia