Mar 31

Bird of the day

Caspian plover

Anarhynchus asiaticus

The Caspian plover (Anarhynchus asiaticus) is a wader in the plover family of birds. The specific asiaticus is Latin and means "Asian", although in binomials it usually means the type locality was India.

This plover breeds in western and central Asia and migrates southward to eastern and southern Africa to escape the northern winter.

This plover is slightly larger than ringed plover, and it recalls greater sandplover and lesser sandplover in appearance. It is slimmer and longer-legged than the sandplovers, and has a much stronger white supercilium, and a long thin bill. It also lacks white tail sides and a weak wing bar.

Summer males have grey-brown backs and a white face and belly. The breast is chestnut, bordered black below. Other plumages have a grey-brown breast band, although the summer female may show a hint of chestnut. The call is a sharp chip.

Aliases

Charadrius asiaticus

Data retrieved on October 15, 2025 at 5:42 AM