Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

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**Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) – A Detailed Overview**

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Genus: Charadrius
Species: Charadrius hiaticula

Morphology & Identification

The Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a small, stocky shorebird known for its distinctive markings and agile movement along coastal regions.

Size: Measures about 17–19.5 cm in length.
Wingspan: Ranges between 35–41 cm.
Weight: Around 40–70 grams.
Coloration:
- Brownish-grey upperparts for effective camouflage.
- White underparts with a bold black breast band.
- A striking black-and-white head pattern with a prominent black mask across the eyes.
- Short, stout orange bill with a black tip.
- Bright orange legs, which are helpful for distinguishing it from similar plovers.
Flight Characteristics:
- Rapid, agile flyers with swift wingbeats.
- Shows a distinct white wing-bar in flight.

Habitat & Distribution

The Common Ringed Plover prefers a variety of open habitats, particularly near water bodies.

Breeding Range:
- Found in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions across Northern Europe, Russia, Greenland, and Canada.
- Nests are usually built on gravelly or sandy shores, tundra, and riverbanks.
Wintering & Migration:
- Migrates to Southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia during the winter.
- Can be spotted on mudflats, estuaries, sandy beaches, and coastal lagoons.

Behavior & Feeding

Foraging Strategy:
- Uses a “stop-and-run” technique to detect prey.
- Feeds mainly on small invertebrates such as insects, crustaceans, worms, and mollusks.
- Often seen running, stopping suddenly, and pecking at the ground.
Vocalization:
- Emits a sharp, whistling call that sounds like “too-ee” or “too-lee”, especially during flight or alarm.
Breeding Behavior:
- Males perform elaborate courtship displays, including aerial dives and scraping small depressions in the ground for nesting.
- Lays about 3–4 eggs in a shallow nest lined with pebbles or vegetation.
- Both parents share incubation duties, which last for around 23–25 days.
- Chicks are precocial, meaning they can move and feed themselves soon after hatching.

Adaptations & Special Features

Cryptic Coloration: Blends with sand and gravel to avoid predators.
Mimicry Behavior: Engages in a broken-wing display to distract predators from its nest.
Hardy Migrator: Covers long distances between breeding and wintering grounds with strong endurance.

Presence of Common Ringed Plover in Sundarban

The Sundarban, a vast mangrove delta ecosystem spread across India and Bangladesh, provides an ideal stopover and wintering ground for migratory shorebirds, including the Common Ringed Plover.

Why Sundarban is an Important Habitat?

Coastal Mudflats & Intertidal Zones: The plover finds ample feeding grounds in the mudflats, estuaries, and tidal sandbanks of Sundarban.
Rich Food Supply: The abundance of small crustaceans, worms, and mollusks in Sundarban’s intertidal zones supports its dietary needs.
Protected Areas: Parts of the Sundarban Biosphere Reserve offer relatively undisturbed habitats for wintering and migrating birds.

Migration & Seasonal Presence in Sundarban

The Common Ringed Plover is a winter visitor to Sundarban, typically arriving between October and March.
Often seen along the coastal mudflats, riverbanks, and estuarine shores.
Shares habitat with other waders like Lesser Sand Plovers, Kentish Plovers, and Curlews.

Threats & Conservation in Sundarban

Despite its adaptability, the Common Ringed Plover faces multiple challenges:

Habitat Disturbance: Coastal erosion, human activities, and climate change are altering its feeding and roosting grounds.
Pollution & Plastic Waste: Increased plastic pollution and oil spills in estuarine waters affect water quality and food availability.
Mangrove Degradation: Sundarban’s mangrove loss and rising sea levels may impact the stability of shorebird populations.

Conservation Efforts

The Sundarban Reserve Forest and Ramsar Site status help protect wetland ecosystems.
Sustainable eco-tourism and birdwatching initiatives raise awareness about migratory birds.
Research & Monitoring: Continuous bird surveys help track the population and migration patterns of species like the Common Ringed Plover.

Conclusion

The Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is an important migratory shorebird with a remarkable adaptability to coastal habitats. The Sundarban provides a crucial wintering ground where this bird thrives in mudflats, estuaries, and sandy shores. However, human disturbances and environmental changes pose potential threats to its habitat. Conservation measures, including habitat protection and eco-tourism awareness, are vital for ensuring that this species continues to visit Sundarban in the future.