I did indeed look up HANZAB to ascertain subspecies, and promptly forgot all
their names. However the race of Lesser Sand Plover with the largest bill
breeds in China/the Himalayas. This is to the west of the eastern most
breeding records of the nominate race of Greeater Sand Plovers. I mention
this because the American notes said they believed it could not be a Greter
because they breed to far across Asia (i.e. further away). I don't think
this subspecies has been recorded inAustralia (though the subspecies group
it belongs too does). The western most race of the Greater also has a
smaller bill (just to make matters worse), but also does not reach
Australia.
In regard to the Californian Plover I still beilieve it is a Greater. There
is a comment that the bird is only slightly larger than a Sanderling, which
comparing the measurements of all three species would make Greater the more
obvious (Mongolians are slightly smaller).
This is my laymans interpretation of HANZAB.
Hope this is not too confusing.
Cheers,
Peter
From: Goodfellow <>
To: "Peter Ewin" <>
Subject: Re: [BIRDING-AUS] California Sandplover
Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2001 17:17:08 +0000
Hilary Thompson and I have seen a few Lesser Sand Plovers in the Top End
with intermediate-sized beaks so it's interesting to read of the
existence of a race.
Denise
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