Medium-sized wader (about 19 cm or 7.5 in) and larger than the Little Ringed and the Kentish plovers, with a sturdy appearance. Ocher upperparts and white underparts. Yellow legs and yellow bill with black tip. White face with ocher upper area of the head. Black mask that extends forming a line on the forehead and the base of the bill. Black neck-collar. In females the previous characteristics are less patent. The winter plumage is duller. In flight it exhibits a white wing band, differentiating feature with the Little Ringed and the Kentish plovers, which do not possess it.
Wetlands and Marine environment
Coastal species, present on shores of beaches and inland lagoons near the beach.
Species present in the coast of Malaga especially as a migrator in passage. The Common Ringed Plover breeds in the taiga of northern Europe. Nest on the ground, in the sand. One laying in April of 3 to 4 eggs. It feeds on invertebrates that it catches on the banks.
Littoral sections with coastal rock fields, for example in Calaburras. Mouths of the Guadalhorce and Vélez rivers. Fuente de Piedra and Campillos lagoons. Coastline from Marbella to Estepona.
A typical behaviour of plovers, related to their feeding, is to take advantage of the descent of the waves to look for prey with the bill on the shore. When the water rises with a new wave, plovers run towards the interior of the beach and wait for the water to come down to feed again.
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