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ID: 877

Marine
Migratory

Charadrius leschenaultii

Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover

Bird

Cite this page API data access
Vulnerable

Taxonomy and naming

Current scientific name Charadrius leschenaultii [877]
Common name Greater Sand Plover, Large Sand Plover
Other names Anarhynchus leschenaultii [94907]
Species author Lesson, 1826
  • Kingdom Animalia
  • Phylum Chordata
  • Class Aves
  • Order Charadriiformes
  • Family Charadriidae

EPBC legal status and documents

EPBC listing status

Extinct Extinct in the wild Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Conservation Dependent

Listed as Vulnerable as Charadrius leschenaultii (Date effective 05-May-2016).

Listed Marine as Charadrius leschenaultii.

Listed Migratory - EPBC Act as Charadrius leschenaultii, Bonn as Charadrius leschenaultii, CAMBA as Charadrius leschenaultii, JAMBA as Charadrius leschenaultii, ROKAMBA as Charadrius leschenaultii.

Conservation planning documents

  • Conservation advice: includes a statement about why the threatened species or ecological community is eligible to be listed under the EPBC Act, the main factors that are the cause of it being eligible for listing, as well as information about what can be done to stop its decline and support its recovery.
  • Recovery plan: includes a description of the threats to the listed threatened species or ecological community as well as actions needed to stop its decline and support its recovery. The Minister decides whether a threatened species or ecological community would benefit from the preparation of a recovery plan (in addition to existing Conservation Advice) drawing on advice from the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
  • Protection statement: includes information about what must be protected to ensure the survival and recovery of the listed threatened species or ecological community in the wild. Protection statements are optional and the Minister for the Environment determines whether a protection statement is prepared for a listed threatened species or ecological community.
  • Threat abatement plan: includes information on research, management and other actions needed to reduce impacts of key threatening processes listed under the EPBC Act.
  • Wildlife conservation plan: includes information on measures required to protect species that are listed as migratory or marine under the EPBC Act.
  • Marine bioregional plan: includes information on key ecological features in the Commonwealth Marine Area as well as measures to protect marine species and habitats.
Conservation advice Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (2023). Conservation Advice for Charadrius leschenaultii (greater sand plover). Canberra: Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. In effect under the EPBC Act from 18 Dec 2023. 2023
Recovery plans There is no adopted or made Recovery Plan for this species.
Recovery plan decision
Recovery Plan not required, approved conservation advice provides sufficient direction to implement priority actions and mitigate against key threats. Significant management and research is being undertaken at international, national, state and local levels (2/05/2016).
Threat abatement plans No Threat Abatement Plan has been identified as being relevant for this species.
Wildlife conservation plans Department of the Environment (2015). Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds. Canberra, ACT: Department of the Environment. This Wildlife Conservation Plan was made for this species prior to it being listed as threatened. The plan is no longer in effect for this species under 285(2) of the EPBC Act. In effect under the EPBC Act from 15 Jan 2016. 2015
Marine bioregional plans Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2012). Marine bioregional plan for the North-west Marine Region. Canberra: Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. In effect under the EPBC Act from 27 Aug 2012. 2012

Other Commonwealth documents

Listing advice Listing assessment information may be available in the approved Conservation Advice.
Federal register of legislation Amendment to the lists of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and key threatening processes under sections 178, 181 and 183 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (188) (02/05/2016) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016).
Threatened
 2016
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - Section 285 - Instrument revoking and making a wildlife conservation plan (Commonwealth of Australia, 2016).
Wildlife Conservation Plan
 2016
Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds (Commonwealth of Australia, 2006).
Wildlife Conservation Plan
 2006
Declaration under section 248 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 - List of Marine Species (Commonwealth of Australia, 2000).
Marine
 2000
List of Migratory Species (13/07/2000) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2000).
Migratory
 2000
Policy statements and guidelines National Light Pollution Guidelines for Wildlife Including Marine Turtles, Seabirds and Migratory Shorebirds (Department of the Environment and Energy, 2020). 2020
EPBC Act Policy Statement 3.21 - Industry Guidelines for avoiding, assessing and mitigating impacts on EBBC Act listed migratory shorebird species (Department of the Environment, 2015). 2015
Information sheets Revision of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway Population Estimates for 37 listed Migratory Shorebird Species (Van Swinderen, L., B.D. Hansen, R.A. Fuller, D. Watkins, D.I. Rogers, R.S. Clemens, M. Newman, E.J. Woehler, D.R. Weller & S. LeClair, 2025). 2025
Australian National Directory of Important Migratory Shorebird Habitat (Driessen, J., L.R. Kidd, D.R. Weller, C. Purnell, G. Maguire, R. Jaensch & S.M. LeClair, 2025). 2025

Status on other lists

State listing

NT

Vulnerable

Listed as Vulnerable (Territory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1976 (Northern Territory): 2021 list)

Threatened animals (Northern Territory Government, 2026). [Internet]

Show documents

WA

Vulnerable

Listed as Vulnerable (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (Western Australia): July 2026 list)

QLD

Vulnerable

Listed as Vulnerable (Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020 (Queensland): May 2026 list)

VIC

Vulnerable

Listed as Vulnerable (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (Victoria): July 2026 list)

NSW

Vulnerable

Listed as Vulnerable (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (New South Wales): 10 July 2026 list)

Threatened biodiversity profile search (Office of Environment & Heritage, 2026). [Internet]

Show documents

Non-statutory listing

NGO

Near Threatened

Listed as Near Threatened (The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2020)

IUCN

Least Concern

Listed as Least Concern (Global Status: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: 2026.1 list)

Non-government documents and websites

There are no available non-government documents or websites.

Distribution

This distribution is part of the Species of National Environmental Significance dataset. Distributions are indicative and represent modelled habitat based on best available data at the time of mapping.

Superseded Commonwealth documents

Non-current Commonwealth documents

Bamford M., D. Watkins, W. Bancroft, G. Tischler & J. Wahl. (2008). Migratory Shorebirds of the East Asian - Australasian Flyway: Population estimates and internationally important sites. Published by Bamford M., D. Watkins, W. Bancroft, G. Tischler & J. Wahl.. 2008
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2009). Draft background paper to EPBC Act policy statement 3.21. Published by Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA). 2009
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) (2011). Shorebirds - A Vulnerability Assessment for the Great Barrier Reef. Published by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). 2011
Hansen, B.D., R.A. Fuller, D. Watkins, D.I. Rogers, R.S. Clemens, M. Newman, E.J. Woehler & D.R. Weller (2016). Revision of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Population Estimates for 37 listed Migratory Shorebird Species. Published by Hansen, B.D., R.A. Fuller, D. Watkins, D.I. Rogers, R.S. Clemens, M. Newman, E.J. Woehler & D.R. Weller. In effect under the EPBC Act from 29 May 2017. 2016
Threatened Species Scientific Committee (2016). NON-CURRENT Conservation Advice Charadrius leschenaultii Greater sand plover. Published by Threatened Species Scientific Committee. In effect under the EPBC Act from 05 May 2016. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 17 Dec 2023. 2016
Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (AGDEH) (2006). NON-CURRENT Wildlife Conservation Plan for Migratory Shorebirds. Published by Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (AGDEH). In effect under the EPBC Act from 25 Feb 2006. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 15 Jan 2016. 2006

Caveat

SPRAT provides statutory information on threatened species and ecological communities, migratory species, marine species, and species and species products subject to international trade and commercial use protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act). While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of information linked from external sources, the Commonwealth does not guarantee, and accepts no responsibility for, the accuracy, currency or completeness of this information. The Commonwealth is not liable for any loss or damage arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or reliance on, information contained in this database. The information is not intended to be a complete source of information on the matters it covers. Individuals and organisations should consider all available information, including information from other sources, when determining whether a referral, permit application or exemption under the EPBC Act may be required.

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