White-faced Plover
Anarhynchus dealbatus
白脸鸻
Introduction
The white-faced plover is a small shorebird. Its range encompasses the coastal shores of subtropical and tropical eastern Asia, including southern China and northern Vietnam. It inhabits sandy beaches and mudflats. The species was formerly classified as a subspecies of the Kentish plover but is now recognized as a distinct species based on genetic, ecological, and demographic studies. Its distinguishing characteristics include facial markings and plumage tones that differentiate it from the Kentish plover. Careful examination is required for identification due to the similarity between the two species.
Description
This small plover reaches approximately 17 cm in length with a compact, rounded head profile. Its most distinctive feature is the white fore-crown and prominent white supercilium contrasting with a pale rufous brown crown. The upperparts are pale brownish-grey, while the hind collar, throat, and underparts are pure white. The bird has dark legs and a relatively short tail. The most notable field mark is its thicker, blunter beak compared to similar species. The white lores, paler overall coloration, reduced black on the lateral breast patches, and larger white wingbar further distinguish it from the Kentish plover.
Identification
The primary identification challenge involves separating this species from the Kentish plover, particularly the east Asian subspecies. The most reliable distinguishing features are the thicker, blunter beak structure and the white lores, which create a more contrasting facial pattern. The white-faced plover shows paler overall coloration on the crown and upperparts, with notably less black marking on the lateral breast patches. Its larger white wingbar is visible in flight and when the wings are partially raised. Careful attention to these multiple characteristics rather than any single field mark provides the most reliable identification.
Distribution & Habitat
The species occupies coastal areas across subtropical and tropical eastern Asia, breeding in southern China and northern Vietnam. Its wintering range extends southward through eastern Indochina to Sumatra. It favors sandy beaches, mudflats, and saltpans, and during non-breeding seasons, it utilizes reclaimed coastal areas.
Behavior & Ecology
The dietary habits of this species remain poorly studied, though they are presumed to mirror those of the Kentish plover. It forages on the foreshore using a visual hunting strategy, scanning the substrate before dashing forward to capture prey or probing the sand and mud with its beak. Its diet includes small invertebrates such as insects and their larvae, spiders, molluscs, crustaceans, and marine worms. Breeding habits remain undescribed in the scientific literature, representing a significant gap in knowledge about this species' annual cycle.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Taxonomy
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Genus
- Anarhynchus
- eBird Code
- whfplo2
Distribution
breeds coastal southeastern China; also Vietnam (1 nest); winters to coastal southern Vietnam, southern Thailand, Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and eastern Sumatra
Data Sources
CBR Notes: IUCN红色名录等级由DD调整为LC，由Charadrius属移入Anarhynchus属（dos Remedios et al. 2015; Eaton et al. 2021）
Species description from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Taxonomy data from AviList 2025.