Little Ringed Plover

Distinctive yellow eye ring.

Scientific name	Charadrius dubius
English name	Little Ringed Plover
Japanese name	小千鳥
Classification	Aves
Classification details	Charadriiformes Charadriidae
Full length	16cm
Distribution	Honshu and southwards

Characteristics

Japan's smallest plover with a distinctive yellow eye ring. The head and back are brown with a hint of grey, with a black band from the forehead to the eyes, and a distinct yellow around the eyes. The outer color of the eye ring is black in males and brown in females. A black band runs down his neck. Its wingspan is over 40cm, indicating that the little-ringed plover is a migratory bird. Similar plovers can be distinguished by their thinner eye rings.

Ecology

They inhabit waterside areas such as rivers, coasts, and lakes. Eat mostly insects. Move by zigzagging or stopping abruptly. From this appearance, the word "Chidori-ashi" was born. Builds a nest in a sandy beach or field, and breeds from spring to summer. When a predator approaches, the parent bird pretends to be injured and performs a mimic wound to distract attention.

Habitat

I found it in the middle stream of Asakawa, Hachioji City. It looked a lot like a wagtail as it walked briskly along the river bank, but it had a distinctive pattern on its face. After searching for food in shallow water for a while, it spread its large wings against its body and flew away.