Small, stocky, fast-running, usually gregarious, plovers. Generally breeding adults are easy to identify, but non-breeding adults and juveniles can be tricky. They are long-legged, short-necked shorebirds with a short bill
They occur in open country, mostly in habitats near water. They eat mostly invertebrates, procured visually with a 'run-stop-search' strategy. They have short pointed wings for direct, fast flight.
They are monogamous and territorial when breeding. Both sexes incubate, with the female sitting during the day. while the male is responsible for nocturnal duties. They are protective over their eggs and offspring. The parents protect their young by uttering an alarm call, performing distraction display and they may even attack the predator or intruder. The chicks are precocial; their parents do not feed them.

Charadrius = plover

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