Lesser Sand Plover - proposed split

[ledzep]

Just noted the split in the latest IOC v13.2. The Lesser Sand Plover is now the Siberian Sand Plover. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_sand_plover

[andrewcrossland]

Here's what Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago (1st ed) says:

Tibetan Plover 1.jpg (272.03 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

Tibetan Plover 2.jpg (306.49 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

Tibetan Plover 3.jpg (273.53 KiB) Viewed 1285 times

As a side note, I didn't realise that Wrybill had a bunch if new cousins in Anarhynchus?! All the sand plovers and Red-capped, Malaysian, Javan etc have been placed in Anarhynchus, while the ringed plovers incl Balck-fronted are in Charadrius in B.I.A.

cheers

[Oscar Thomas]

I could only find the following reference for the new classifications of Charadrius into Anarhynchus: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287959465_Taxonomic_recommendations_for_Western_Palearctic_birds_11th_report

New Zealand Dotterel and Banded Dotterel are also placed in Anarhynchus, while hooded and shore plovers instead go to Charadrius... further detail here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2015.04.010

[Michael Szabo]

Here is another paper with useful illustrations: Taxonomy, phylogenetic history and identification of sand plover complex
https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... er_complex

[Michael Szabo]

Nikolas Haass reports that a sand plover was caught recently in Broome (WA) with several Greater and Siberian Sand-Plovers: "It was a similar size to a Siberian but looked like a Greater. Measurements were taken as well as a blood sample. There is still ongoing work with this bird we are doing but early indication point to it being this new Tibetan Sand-Plover."

[Michael Szabo]

Reported today by Adrian Boyle via Facebook:

"Tibetan Plover (Anarhynchus atrifrons) in Broome.

First confirmed record for Australia.

On the 12th of October 2023 an unusual Sand Plover was captured during a shorebird research expedition. Several Sand Plovers were captured with one looking more like a Greater in plumage but size was closer to a Siberian. Measurements and several photographs were taken as well as a blood sample to check its DNA. Nigel Jackett put together some graphs to compare the measurements of other Sand Plovers from Australia and overseas. The measurements fitted for Tibetan but we were waiting on the results of the DNA to be certain. Well the results have come in and confirmed that the bird was indeed a Tibetan with a 99.01% match. Thanks to the Broome Bird Observatory for funding the DNA testing.

A BARC submission is in progress."

This highlights the need for high quality photos of Sand Plovers in New Zealand, preferably showing a size comparison with other waders to help with species identification.

[Michael Szabo]

More useful photos and video of Tibetan Sand Plover, posted to eBird by Adrian Boyle:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S165657712? ... LWbEBZSyh4

[Oscar Thomas]

Would be useful if you knew which bird it was in the photos! Think I got it after a few minutes...

[Michael Szabo]

The smaller bird in the centre is a Tibetan Sand Plover with a Greater Sand Plover standing behind it.

[benackerley]

Whats the differences between Tibetan sand plover and the Siberian sand plover? In the first image on the Tibetan sand plover I assume its the birds in focus behind the Siberian sand plover in the front?
Image attached from ebird.