There are 68 species in the subfamily Charadriidae, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfamily, Vanellinae, comprises another 20-odd species. Plovers are found throughout the world, with the exception of the Sahara and the polar regions, and are characterised by relatively short bills. They hunt by sight, rather than by feel as longer-billed waders like snipes do. They feed mainly on insects, worms or other invertebrates, depending on the habitat, which are obtained by a run-and-pause technique, rather than the steady probing of some other wader groups. Plovers engage in false brooding, a type of distraction display. Examples include: pretending to change position or to sit on an imaginary nest site. A group of plovers may be referred to as a stand, wing, or congregation. A group of dotterels may be referred to as a trip.
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at the "Polsbroekerdam" near Utrecht, The Netherlands | 11-08-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
New Zealand Plover | Charadrius obscurus | Photo made in Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand | 24-02-2019
African Wattled Lapwing | Vanellus senegallus | Photo made in Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda | 03-02-2018
Grey-headed Lapwing | Vanellus cinereus | Photo made in Nam Kham Nature Reserve, Thailand | 23-02-2016
Malaysian Plover | Charadrius peronii | Photo made at the beach of Laem Phak Bia, Thailand | 13-02-2016
Malaysian Plover | Charadrius peronii | Photo made at the beach of Laem Phak Bia, Thailand | 13-02-2016
Malaysian Plover | Charadrius peronii | Photo made at the beach of Laem Phak Bia, Thailand | 13-02-2016
Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Photo made at the beach of Laem Phak Bia, Thailand | 13-02-2016
Kentish Plover | Charadrius alexandrinus | Photo made at the beach of Laem Phak Bia, Thailand | 13-02-2016
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at "De Putten" near Schoorl, The Netherlands | 06-06-2013
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at "De Putten" near Schoorl, The Netherlands | 06-06-2013
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at "De Putten" near Schoorl, The Netherlands | 06-06-2013
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at "De Putten" near Schoorl, The Netherlands | 06-06-2013
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at "De Putten" near Schoorl, The Netherlands | 06-06-2013
African Wattled Lapwing | Vanellus senegallus | Photo made at the Okavango River, Botswana | 20-02-2012
Blacksmith Lapwing | Vanellus armatus | Photo made at the "Ai Aiba Lodge" near Erongo, Namibia | 09-02-2012
Chestnut-banded Plover | Charadrius pallidus | Photo made at the "Salt pans" in Swakopmund, Namibia | 07-02-2012
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made at the "Lange Bunders" in Breda, The Netherlands | 24-05-2010
Black-winged Lapwing | Vanellus melanopterus | Photo made at the Suluta Plains, Ethiopia | 10-01-2010
American Golden Plover | Pluvialis dominica | Photo made near "Den Hoorn" on the island of Texel, The Netherlands | 18-10-2009