Anarhynchus marginatus marginatus ( West Coast White-fronted Plover) is a small (45–50 g), pale shorebird endemic to the sandy coastlines of the west coast from central Namibia to Cape Agulhas, South Africa. It is a monogamous, resident species that breeds in shallow scrapes on beaches, feeding on small invertebrates by running and pausing, often trembling its feet to flush prey.
Key Details for A. m. marginatus:
Distribution: Confined to the west coast of southern Africa, ranging from central Namibia south to Cape Agulhas in the Western Cape, South Africa.
Appearance: A small, pale sand-colored plover with white underparts and a white collar. Males have a more pronounced blackish-brown stripe behind the eye compared to females.
Habitat: Strictly coastal, favoring open, sandy beaches, sand dunes, and sometimes mudflats.
Breeding & Behavior: They are monogamous and tend to stay with the same mate and territory for multiple years. They lay 1–3 eggs in shallow scrapes, often above the high-water mark.
Diet: Feeds on insects and aquatic invertebrates, using the "stop-run-peck" method.
Distinction: Smaller than sand-plovers and distinguished by its white collar and pale coloration from other similar species.
This subspecies is one of several identified within the white-fronted plover species, BirdLife South Africa which ranges across sub-Saharan Africa.
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