Little Ringed Plovers

Naturpark Pfyn-Finges - The little ringed plover sometimes tramples vigorously on the sand or mud in order to flush out prey from their hiding places.

If pebbles suddenly seem to be moving on banks of gravel or sand, then it is probably a little ringed plover. The bird almost "rolls" over the ground with its rapid tiny steps, suddenly stops, and starts again to cover another distance. It sometimes tramples vigorously on the sand or mud in order to flush out prey from their hiding places.

Status (in CH): frequent, rare breeding bird, rare migratory bird.

Features: brown back, white belly with a wide black collar; black band behind the eye and on the white brow, yellow ring around the eye; it lacks the white wing bars of the common ringed plover; both sexes are similar.

(Source: Swiss Ornithological Institute)