Mystery Bird: Greater Sand-Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii

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[Mystery bird] Greater Sand-Plover, Charadrius leschenaultii, photographed near Jacksonville, Florida. [I will identify this bird for you tomorrow]

Image: Roger Clark, 14 May 2009 [larger view].

Please name at least one field mark that supports your identification.

Review all mystery birds to date.

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I know what it is from sightings reports, but I have no idea which field marks support that identification.

The closest thing I can find in Sibley is a Mongolian plover, with this bird looking like it's about midway between the nonbreeding and breeding plumages. This bird's beak is a little on the large side compared to the Sibley illustration, though. And of course it's nowhere near where it should be, even going by the green dots ("rare") on Sibley's range map, but that's the nature of mystery birds: sometimes they're birds that earned birders' attention by nowhere near where they should have been.

Excellent answer, LouCD.

At first, I thought Ruddy Turnstone. What about Wilson's Plover? Grayish legs. Large black bill. I've never seen one. I'm going by Sibley. Maybe it's in between molts?

By Sandra Wright (not verified) on 18 May 2009 #permalink

Sorry, I meant Lou FCD.

By Sandra Wright (not verified) on 18 May 2009 #permalink

Greater Sand Plover?
Field Mark: "heavy,long (bill); often appears disproportionately large-billed" in Svensson, L.; et. al. 1999 Collins Bird Guide ... Britain and Europe

Absolutely a Greater Sand Plover. As far as field marks go - since this bird is not really supposed to be here - I use the frantic, crazed comments of dedicated birders at Tropical Audubon Society to make my ID :) Video of this bird available on the birdboard!

Yeah! This is fun. Thanks!

I so want to go look for it, but I can't.

Greater sand Plover--chestnut bib black mask are give aways