lesser sand plover
A migratory shorebird (Charadrius mongolus) found in coastal areas of East Asia.
In spring, lesser sand plovers come to the tidal flats.
greater sand plover
Standard katakana spelling for this bird species.
Kanji spelling is rare; the bird name is usually written in kana.
The name likely derives from 目大 (medai, 'large-eyed') and 千鳥 (chidori, 'plover'), referring to the bird's appearance. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.