Little Ringed Plover
Scientific Name: Charadrius dubiusMaltese Name: Monakella
Family: Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae)
Occurence: Common Migrant
Breeds in Malta: Yes
Breeding Frequency: Rare & Localised
Overview:
A small plover with a distinctive black and white head pattern, similar to Ringed Plover. It has a black beak and pale (not orange) legs. Close views reveal a distinctive yellow eye-ring. In flight it shows a plain brown wing. The chicks are very clumsy-looking, with relatively long legs and a relatively big head, attached to a tiny body.
These birds, like many other wader species, forage for food on muddy areas, usually by sight. They eat insects and worms. Their breeding habitat is open gravel areas near freshwater, including gravel pits, islands and river edges. They become very territorial during their breeding season, chasing off other waders from the vicinity of their nest.
Its commonest call, often called in flight, is a short piping "piu". During breeding season it reveals a wider variety of piping calls.
Status and Distribution:
The Little Ringed Plover is a rare breeding bird, breeding only in Ghadira Nature Reserve. It first bred in 1995, but it has bred annually since then. The population is a very healthy one, with an average of 6 pairs each year. Possibilities of Little Ringed Plover breeding outside of Ghadira Nature Reserve are very remote due to lack of suitable and undisturbed habitat.
When to See:
Breeding birds present at Ghadira Nature Reserve from April till August. Regular migratory wader in Spring and Autumn.
Where to See:
Simar and Ghadira Nature Reserves, Salina Saltpans and shores. Flocks can be seen migrating from anywhere.
Photographs:
 |
Adult Little Ringed Plover, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
 |
 |
| Little Ringed Plover nest with 4 eggs, Ghadira Nature Reserve | Adult Little Ringed Plover defending its territory, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
 |
Little Ringed Plover chick, Ghadira Nature Reserve |
 |
 |
| Little Ringed Plover chicks sheltering under their parent, Ghadira Nature Reserve | Juvenile Ringed Plover chick, Qawra |
Listen to Little Ringed Plover:
Back to Bird Species List