The family Charadriidae contain the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. The term plover is often used to encompass all family members. The small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They hunt by sight, rather than by feel as longer-billed waders do. The largest plovers are the members of genus Vanellus and they are called lapwings.


Genus Charadrius

Plover, Chestnut-banded  Charadrius pallidus  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1)  Trevor Hardaker - Namibia  2) Jerry Oldenetttel - Esplanade Park, Walvis Bay, Namibia


Plover, Kittlitz's  Charadrius pecuarius Found: Africa
Photographed by:   1) Trevor Hardaker - West Coast National Park, South Africa
   2) Charlie Westerinen - Hwange Park in Zimbabwe   3) D. Gordon Robertson - Tanzania


Plover, Ringed Charadrius hiaticula   Found: North America (northeast Canada), Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: Andreas Trepte 2) Dick Daniels - Scotland   3, 4) Dick - Scotland


Plover, Little Ringed  Charadrius dubius  Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: Andreas Trepte


Plover, Lesser Sand  aka Mongolian Plover  Charadrius mongolus   Found: North America (Alaska), Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by:  1, 2) Lip Kee Yap- Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve  3) JJ Harrison


Plover, Three-banded Charadrius tricollaris   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Alastair Rae - the Masai Mara   2) Arno Meintjes   3) Dick Daniels - Tanzania



Genus Pluvialis

Plover, Black-bellied aka Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: Dick Daniels- North Carolina   2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) Dick - North Carolina  5) Peter Wallack
1 - 4) Non-breeding plumage   5 - 8) Breeding plumage



Plover, Eurasian Golden  Pluvialis apricaria  Found: Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Bjørn Christian Tørrissen - Norway  2) Goldregenpfeifer



Genus Vanellus
The lapwings are a diverse group with no clear unifying characteristics. Most have wattles (red, yellow, or orange) about the face aand most have distinctive markings about the face and breast. vanellus.

Lapwing, African Wattled aka Senegal Wattled Plover Vanellus senegallus Found: Africa
Photographed by:  1, 2) Arno Meintjes


Lapwing, Andean  Vanellus resplendens  Found: South America
Photographed by S. M. Jayanth


Lapwing, Banded  Vanellus tricolor  Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) D. Gordon Robertson  2) djpmapleferryman  3) Helenabella on Rottnest Island, AU


Lapwing, Blacksmith aka Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - South Africa   2) Dick - South Africa  3, 4) Dick - Tanzania


Lapwing, Black-winged aka Greater Black-winged Plover Vanellus melanopterus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Carol Foil  - Kenya


Lapwing, Crowned aka Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus   Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels- Johannesburg, South Africa  3) Dick - Tanzania  4) Dick - Tanzania


Lapwing, Long-toed aka  Long-toed Plover  Vanellus crassirostris  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo  2) Christfried Naumann - Berlin Zoo


Lapwing, Spur-winged aka Spur-winged Plover  Vanellus spinosus  Found: Europe, Africa
Photographed by:  1) Anders Lanzen  2)  Thurner Hof    3) Dick Daniels - Sylvan Heights   4) Dick - Sylvan Heights


Lapwing, White-headed aka White-crowned Plover Vanellus albiceps  Found: Africa
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - San Diego Zoo  3) Sandy Cole - San Diego Zoo  4) Arno Meintjes