Photo: Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Common Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticula
Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 64 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Charadrius
- Species hiaticula
Where it lives
Inland high Arctic Palearctic from Greenland to northeastern Siberia; to temperate Europe
Quick facts
- Weight
- 64 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Common Ringed Plover hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of coastal habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Common Ringed Plover is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
The Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL inland high Arctic Palearctic from Greenland to ne Siberia; to temperate Europe.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 64 g, with a wing length of about 12.6 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 4.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Common Ringed Plover?
The Common Ringed Plover is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 64 g.
Where does the Common Ringed Plover live?
The Common Ringed Plover is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL inland high Arctic Palearctic from Greenland to ne Siberia; to temperate Europe, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Common Ringed Plover belong to?
The Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Common Ringed Plover eat?
The Common Ringed Plover hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Common Ringed Plover migrate?
The Common Ringed Plover is partially migratory: some populations move with the seasons while others stay resident year-round.
Is the Common Ringed Plover endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Common Ringed Plover make?
1 real field recording of the Common Ringed Plover — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Common Ringed Plover's range?
The Common Ringed Plover has a mapped global range of about 4.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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