White-fronted Plover

Walvis Bay, Namibia

The white-fronted plover is a common resident wader throughout sub-saharan Africa and Madagascar.

Habitat

The white-fronted plover inhabits beaches, mudflats and dunes and also the shores of rivers and lakes.

Feeding

White-fronted plovers hunt for food both during the day and at night time, running and stopping suddenly to peck at prey from the water or the sand. They also apply a foot-trembing technique that brings small insects or invertebrates to the suface. Sand flies, grasshoppers, termites, shrimps, molluscs, crustaceans and worms are all fair game.

Breeding

White-fronted plovers are largely monogamous. Their nest is a shallow scrape made with its breast, in sand, gravel or shingle sometimes lined with seaweed or shell fragments but often left unlined. The female lays a clutch of between one and three well camouflaged eggs which are defended aggressively. Both partners feed the chicks.

Wildfile Specials

• The white-fronted plover will sometimes fly briefly into the air to snatch insects
• Predators are drawn away from the nest by feigned injury or short runs away from the nest.