Common name: Grey Plover
Scientific name: Pluvialis squatarola
Family: Charadriidae

Size:
Body length: 27–30 cm
Wingspan: 71–83 cm
Weight: 190–280 g

Identification:
A large plover with a robust build and relatively short bill. In breeding plumage, it is striking with a black face, throat, and belly sharply contrasting with white and grey upperparts. In non-breeding plumage, it appears more subdued, with grey-brown upperparts and a pale underside. In flight, it shows a bold black axillary (underwing) patch, a key identification feature.

Habitat:
Coastal mudflats, sandy shores, estuaries, and tidal flats. Occasionally found inland during migration.

Status in the UAE:
Common winter visitor and passage migrant. Frequently seen along coastlines and mudflats.

Diet:
Carnivorous — feeds on worms, crustaceans, mollusks, and other small invertebrates.

Behavior:
Often seen singly or in small groups. Feeds by running and pausing, picking prey from the surface. Flight is strong and direct, often with rapid wingbeats. More solitary compared to other plovers.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)