cgeoff

All the sand plovers above are Greater Sand Plovers. The breeding plumage birds have extensive orangish colour on the crown, which Lesser does not show. The juvenile has a large thick bill.

Leg colour is variable, and should not be used to separate Lesser from Greater.

Geoff

cgeoff

Looking at the pic of birds in flight, I notice that the breeding plumaged sand plover on the left, at about middle height, is a Lesser. It has a cinammon coloured breast band, darker than the sandy-orange of the Greaters. Comparing the foot projection of this bird with the Greater above it, you can see there is no difference.

Geoff