Identification & Sexing of Little Ringed & Ringed Plover

Identification of adults

Little Ringed Plover Bill: slim, long and all black Bright yellow eye ring White band above black forehead Slightly smaller and slimmer Grey-pink legs No wing-bar	Ringed Plover Bill: heavy and orange with black tip No eye ring No white band above black forehead More compact and full-chested Bright orange legs White wing-bar, visible in flight

Display and other calls

Hints for sexing Little Ringed Plover and Ringed Plover

For both species, when alone, sexes are sometimes inseparable. However, when seen in pairs, the black on the head (lores, ear coverts, band under eye) and chest band is usually completely black in males, as opposed to tinged brown in females. In both species the leg colour of the male is usually brighter than that of the female.

Breeding behaviour (may help distinguish sexes or confirm breeding)

• Display-flight: only undertaken by males, whilst calling, and often extends beyond the territory boundary, but sometimes accompanied by the female
• Courtship display: on the ground, male more active
• Mating
• Creating nest depressions: males only
• Incubating: both sexes
• Feigning injury: both sexes, from shortly before hatching until the chicks are a few days old

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