Lesser/Greater Sand Plover

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imogenw33
Lesser/Greater Sand Plover

1st - lesser sand plover?

2nd - greater sand plover?

Taken on Cairns foreshore last week.

Many thanks

dwatsonbb
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I am no expert here, but with that heavy looking bill and long looking legs, gunna say Greater, but you will need confirmation from someone with more experience than I. I presume both photos of same bird?
Great photos by the way.

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

imogenw33

Thanks Dale

They are different birds. I thought the second had a heavier bill than the first.

dwatsonbb
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Looking  closer, I agree on the bills, perhaps you have both?

Dale Huonville, Tasmania

sue818
sue818's picture

I'm no expert but I suspect you could have one of each. It is difficult from the angle but I was always told to consider the bill length relative to the head length i.e. Lesser is about 1/2 a head and Greater is more. ABID guide suggests that it is greater than the distance from the rear of bill to rear of eye. Try the Facebook group ABID for more clarification as the experts will help out.

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