Why the Little stint and the Kentish plover stick together

The wintering season is in its fag end, and during the end of April and early part of May in 2025, one has been greeted by sights of Little stints sharing space with Kentish plovers.

Take in this familiar scenario; and that might make it easier to figure out why the Little stints and Kentish plovers hang out together. Two colleagues are in the same department, and they have taken residence in the quarters provided by their office (a situation usually playing out in government jobs in India). They head out for work and hit the trail back home around the same hours, and therefore end up taking the same route both ways, and become travel companions.

Now shift the focus to a saltern in Thaiyur near Kelambakkam. The wintering season is in its fag end, and during the end of April and early part of May in 2025, one has been greeted by sights of Little stints sharing space with Kentish plovers.

Similarity in their dining habits and shared routes to the wintering grounds and back to the breeding grounds make them compatible and they are at home in each other’s company.

Whoever said familiarity breeds contempt has never been introduced to the Little stint and the Kentish plover.