What kind of bird is the little plover, a wild bird characterized by its yellow eye ring? We will explain its call, characteristics, ecology, and habitat. It is known as a migratory bird that breeds in Eurasia and spends the winter in Africa and southern Eurasia. It is a very cute little bird that is worth paying attention to.
What is Little Plover? Basic Stats
The little ringed plover is a bird of the Charadriiformes order, Charadriidae family, and Charadrius genus. Its kanji is Kochidori, its English is Little Ringed Plover, and its scientific name is Charadrius dubius. Its total length is 16cm, its wingspan is 35-38cm, and its weight is 35-40g. The list of information is as follows.
| Japanese（和名） | コチドリ |
| English（英名） | Little ringed plover |
| scientific name(学名) | Charadrius dubius |
| classification（分類） | Aves、 Charadriiformes、 Charadriidae、Charadrius 鳥綱、チドリ目、チドリ科、チドリ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 16cm |
| Weight（体重） | 35～40g |
Basic classification (taxonomy)
- 界：動物界 Animalia
- 門：脊索動物門 Chordata
- 綱：鳥綱 Aves
- 目：チドリ目 Charadriiformes
- 科：チドリ科 Charadriidae
- 属：チドリ属 Charadrius
- 種：コチドリ Charadrius dubius
Habitat
The Little Plover breeds as a summer bird over a wide area of the Eurasian continent, including Japan, in the summer, and migrates to southern Eurasia and further south, as well as the Philippines, New Guinea, and Africa in the winter to spend the winter.
Main Habitat Types
River banks mid- to downstream
Gravel- and sandy riverbanks
Around lakes, ponds, and reservoirs
Tidal flats and coastlines (bays and estuaries)
Artificial environments
Reclaimed land
Construction sites
Sandy parking lots
Quartiers
👉 They all share a common trait: **”clear visibility and little grass on the ground.”
● Japan
Distributed nationwide
Mainly a summer bird (breeds in Japan from spring to autumn)
Some species winter in warmer regions
Particularly common in:
Large rivers (such as the Tama River, Tone River, and Yodo River)
Human-maintained riverbeds
■ Global Distribution
The Little Ringed Plover has an extremely wide distribution.
Eurasia
Europe
Russia
China
Korean Peninsula
Southeast Asia
Indian Subcontinent
Parts of Africa
➡ As a migratory bird,
it travels between breeding grounds (temperate) and wintering grounds (tropical and subtropical).
Why Little Ringed Plovers Choose Sandy and Gravelly Ground
They can quickly detect predators.
They can easily prey on insects and small animals on the ground.
They lay their eggs directly on the ground without building nests.
👉 Conversely, they are unsuitable for areas with overgrown grass, forests, and brush.
Paved areas frequently visited by people are also unsuitable.
■ Breeding Habitat
April to July
They lay their eggs in shallow depressions in the sand of riverbanks and construction sites.
They use camouflage to blend their eggs into the rocks and sand.
⚠ For this reason,
What are its characteristics? What does it look like?
The little ringed plover, a yellow-legged species, is gray-brown on the back, white on the underside, and has a distinctive golden yellow eye ring around the eye. There is a black band around the chest, which is wider in males and thinner in females. Young birds are browner overall and do not have the black band on the forehead. They live in groups and inhabit coasts, midstream rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, rice fields, and farmland. When observed, they make a “piu piu” sound.
■ Overall impression (What kind of bird is it?)
In a nutshell, the Little Ringed Plover is
a small, agile, yet very strong-willed “ground-dwelling bird.”
Its small body is quite active.
It runs around and then suddenly stops.
It is wary of people when they approach.
It looks cute, but
its way of life is quite tough.
■ Morphological characteristics (appearance)
● Body size
Body length: Approximately 15-16cm
Slightly larger than a sparrow
Slender body with long legs
● Face and pattern (most distinctive feature)
Yellow eye ring around the eye (defining feature)
Beak is short with a black tip
Black collar pattern around the neck
The forehead and throat are also outlined in black (breeding season)
👉 This yellow eye ring
is the most distinctive feature that distinguishes it from the Black-eared Plover.
● Coloration
Back: Brown (resembling sand or stone)
Belly: White
Overall subdued coloration that blends in with nature
What is its ecology?
The little ringed plover feeds on insects and also on crustaceans such as crabs. They are monogamous and breed from April to July. Nests are built in shallow holes on gravel coasts and cultivated land. Females lay about 3 to 4 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes and hatch in a month. The chicks become independent after 8-25 days and reach sexual maturity after 1-2 years. They have a lifespan of 4-5 years.
■ Overview of the Little Ringed Plover’s Ecology
The Little Ringed Plover is a diurnal bird that lives in open, gravelly areas, relying on its eyesight and quick movements.
Mainly active during the day.
Specialized for terrestrial life.
Rational in reproduction, foraging, and defense.
■ Diet (What do they eat?)
● Main diet
Insects (beetles, flies, ants, etc.)
Arachnids
Earthworms
Small crustaceans (tidal flats)
👉 Primarily animal-based diet.
● Foraging method
Run → Stop → Pecking
Heavily dependent on vision
Forages alone or in pairs, not in groups.
Their “stop-and-go” diet is unique to plovers.
■ Daily Activity Pattern
● Daytime
Mainly foraging
Moves alert in clear areas
● Nighttime
Mainly rests
May move at night during migration
■ Breeding Habits (Very Distinctive)
● Breeding Season
April to July
Arrives in Japan in the spring and breeds
● Nest Building
Does not build nests
Shallow depressions in sand or pebbles
Small rows of stones
➡ Eggs are fully camouflaged
● Egg Laying
3-4 eggs per clutch
Spotted eggs
Almost blends in with the ground
● Incubation and Raising
Shared between males and females
Incubation Period: Approximately 24 days
Do they have any natural enemies?
The natural enemies of the little plover are birds of prey such as crows and hawks.
About Little Ringed Plover Chicks
This article provides a detailed explanation of Little Ringed Plover chicks, focusing on their appearance, behavior, relationship with their parents, and survival strategies immediately after hatching.
Precocial (precocial)
Able to walk immediately after birth
Searches for food independently
Does not receive food directly from parents
Leaves the nest (i.e., egg-laying site) immediately after hatching
👉 These birds are very independent for a bird.
● Body size
Immediately after hatching: Slightly larger than a ping-pong ball
Body is round, with surprisingly long legs
● Body color (most distinctive feature)
Brown, beige, and black mottled pattern
Blends perfectly with sand and pebbles
Almost invisible when standing still
➡ Perfect camouflage against predators
● They simply stay put
They stay put when they sense danger
They lie down when their parents signal
They prefer to “disappear” rather than “run away”
● Foraging behavior
They pick up small insects on their own
The parents watch nearby and monitor for danger
● Parental role
Detecting danger
They use vocalizations to give instructions
They distract with predatory behavior
👉 Parents
Are little-toed plovers an endangered species?
Little-toed plovers are classified as least concern and are not endangered. They are kept in zoos and other facilities and events are held, so look at the guides and take part in them.
🌍 Global Status
In the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List,
it is classified as Least Concern (not threatened).
This is because it is assessed to have a wide distribution range and sufficient populations.
➡ In other words, it is not a species at high risk of extinction globally.
🇯🇵 Status in Japan
In Japan, assessments are divided as follows:
✅ General Assessment
In the Ministry of the Environment’s National Red List (2020), it is not listed as endangered.
⚠ Assessment at the Prefectural Level
In Tokyo, it is listed as “Vulnerable (VU).”
*Since distribution and population size vary by prefecture, assessments may be determined on a case-by-case basis.
In some municipalities, such as Oita Prefecture, it is listed as “Near Threatened (NT).”
➡ Assessments are not uniform across Japan, but are divided by region.
✔ Wide range
This species breeds and migrates widely across the Eurasian continent, with a wide global distribution.
✔ Highly migratory
Breeding occurs in Japan from spring to summer, and in winter, it migrates to southern Asia and Africa.
✔ Maintains stable populations in many areas.
There has been no significant decline in overall population numbers, and the species is not subject to IUCN criteria.
Can little-toed plovers be kept as pets?
Little-toed plovers are managed by the Ministry of the Environment under the Wildlife Protection and Management Act and feeding them is prohibited.
■ Reason 1: Legal Issues (Japan)
● Wildlife Protection and Management Act
In Japan, little ringed plovers are considered wild birds, and their capture, captivity, transportation, and sale are generally prohibited.
👉
Even if they are uninjured, and you pick up a chick out of pity, it is illegal to keep them without permission.
● Exceptions
Keeping them is only permitted in the following cases:
Official permission from the government (Ministry of the Environment or prefecture)
Zoos and research institutions
Conservation facilities (for rehabilitation purposes)
It is almost impossible for the general public to obtain permission.
■ Reason 2: Ecologically unsuitable for keeping
● Ground-dwelling and have a wide range of movement
Roams freely on gravelly ground
Low visibility leads to severe stress
Cage keeping is fatal
● Extremely wary
Perceives humans as a “natural enemy”
Does not habituate
Chronic stress weakens them
👉
They are not the type of bird that easily becomes tame.
● Unusual feeding behavior
Searches for and eats live insects
Difficult to adapt to feeding
Nutrition management is extremely difficult
■ Reason 3: Ethical and conservation considerations
Ground-breeding leads to unstable populations
Declines in some areas
Losing even one bird can significantly affect breeding success
👉
Even before considering whether or not they can be kept as pets,
these birds should not be kept as pets.
コメント