You’ve got to love a plover

THE small plovers in the genus Charadrius have been exhibited for many years in a number zoos in habitat displays. Yet they are not a first-choice aviary bird with birdkeepers. That is a pity, as they are ideal for the purpose and their maintenance is similar to that of other softbills. Compared to the larger plovers such as lapwings, they are much less assertive. They will live harmoniously in a mixed-species enclosure and with the right habitat they often breed.

There are 31 plovers in the genus , and these include the European dotterel () and the similarly plumaged sand plovers. The others (which include the North American killdeer ()) resemble our common ringed plover () in body shape and facial markings, with brown or orange caps and