Birds diurnal

Forbes's Plover

Thinornis forbesi

A striking double-banded wader of West Africa, Forbes's Plover is as comfortable on a rocky riverside as it is on a suburban fairway. With its piercing red eye ring and rhythmic run-and-stop foraging, it is a master of the open ground.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 19–21 cm (7.5–8.3 in); Wingspan: 38–43 cm (15–17 in); Weight: 35–50 g (1.2–1.8 oz)

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Colors

Earthy brown upperparts, white underparts, and two distinct black breast bands. Features a prominent red ring around the eye and a bill with a pinkish-red base and black tip.

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Key Features

Two bold black breast bands separated by a white gap
Vivid red orbital ring around the eye
Brown crown and back with a white forehead
Pink-based bill with a dark tip
Long, pale greyish-yellow legs

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 6-10 AM, 3-6 PM

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Season Year-round; most easily spotted in open areas during the dry season (November to April)

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Diet Strictly insectivorous, these plovers feed on a variety of terrestrial invertebrates including beetles, grasshoppers, flies, and small worms, often locating them by vibration or sight.

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Habitat Inland wetlands and rocky uplands during the wet season; moves to open grasslands, airfields, and large lawns during the dry season.

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Behavior

Forbes's Plover is a charismatic and adaptable wader known for its seasonal migrations between wet and dry landscapes. During the breeding season, these birds are typically found in rocky upland areas near rivers or pools where they nest in simple ground scrapes. They are territorial during this time, using their sharp calls and display flights to defend their chosen nesting sites from rivals.

As the dry season approaches, they move into more open, human-influenced environments such as golf courses, airfields, and short-grass pastures. On the ground, they exhibit the classic plover foraging style: a quick, frantic run followed by a sudden stop and a focused peck at the soil. They are generally seen in pairs or small family groups, rarely forming the massive flocks seen in other shorebird species.

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Camera Tips

To capture the best footage of a Forbes's Plover, camera placement is everything. Since these birds are strictly ground-dwellers, you must mount your camera extremely low—ideally between 6 and 10 inches off the ground. If you are placing it in a backyard or on a golf course, look for areas of very short grass or bare soil where the birds are likely to forage for insects. A wide-angle lens is preferred because these birds move quickly and can easily dart out of a narrow frame.

During the dry season, you can encourage them to visit your camera's field of view by maintaining a patch of well-manicured, short grass. They prefer areas with 360-degree visibility so they can spot predators, so avoid placing your camera near dense shrubs or tall vegetation. If you have a shallow, pebble-lined birdbath or water feature at ground level, this can be a significant draw, as they occasionally visit inland pools to drink and bathe.

High trigger speeds are crucial for Forbes's Plover. Their movement is characterized by sudden, jerky sprints, and a slow camera will often capture nothing but a blurry tail. Set your camera to take a burst of 3-5 photos or a short 10-second video clip to ensure you catch the moment they pause to scan their surroundings. Because they are diurnal, ensure your camera's exposure settings are optimized for bright, open sunlight, which can often lead to overexposed shots on light-colored ground.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Forbes's Plover.

Three-banded Plover

The Three-banded Plover has a prominent white stripe behind the eye and prefers permanent water bodies over open grasslands.

Common Ringed Plover

This species has only one broad black breast band and lacks the red eye ring of the Forbes's Plover.

Frequently Asked Questions

Forbes's Plover is diurnal, meaning it is active during the day. You will see them most frequently during the early morning and late afternoon when temperatures are cooler and insects are more active near the surface.

The best way to attract Forbes's Plover is to provide a large, open area of very short grass or bare ground. They avoid tall grass where predators might hide. A shallow, ground-level water source with a few flat rocks can also be very effective.

They are primarily insectivores. Their diet consists of ground-dwelling insects like beetles, flies, and grasshoppers, as well as small worms and larvae found just beneath the soil surface.

Yes, specifically during the dry season. They are highly attracted to man-made open spaces like golf courses, parks, and large gardens that mimic their natural dry-season grassland habitats.

While both have breast bands, Forbes's Plover usually has two black bands, whereas the Three-banded Plover has a white line behind the eye that Forbes's lacks, and the Three-banded is more strictly tied to water.

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