This small Australian Plover is found throughout the continent in suitable habitats and is very adaptable occupies a range of coastal and inland habitats, including estuaries, bays, beaches, sandflats and mudflats; inland saline wetlands; it is also found on salty edges of waterways and on claypans.
They are busy, fast moving birds that feed along the edge of the water, running in short spurts and locating prey by sight, they eat a variety of foods including beetles, seeds, small crustaceans and molluscs.
The sexes are similar with the male being somewhat brighter and with a reddish crown. The nest site is a shallow scrape in sand, gravel or shingle; occasionally in short grass and sometimes with one or two pieces of twig, grass or stone at the edge. Like all our Plovers the eggs are usually well camouflaged. Both parents share the nest duties and if the nest is threatened they will try several distraction methods, including feigning injury by dragging a wing to lead predators away.