Kentish Plovers are told apart from the two other commonly found small plovers in Portugal by their lack of any black band on the back of the neck. Moreover, during the breeding season the male sports an orange or light brown patch at the base of the skull which sometimes extends higher onto the head itself. Their legs are black which also distinguishes them from either the Little Ringed or Common Plovers. They are a resident species, but seldom if ever found away from the coast.
