This plover occurs in southern South America. Breeding adults have two black bands across the breast.
Breeding males have a white forehead, black facial markings, chestnut crown and hindneck, and two black breast bands. Females have browner dark markings, duller rufous crowns and white flecks in the upper breast band.
It uses coastal beaches and fresh or brackish waters, feeding on insects, small crustaceans and other invertebrates. It also forages among rotting kelp and short grass beside freshwater pools.
In the 2006–2007 study at three Chubut beaches in Argentina, 47 nests were found. Nests occupied flat sand, gravel or similar ground, using shells, twigs or seaweed; clutches had three eggs, sometimes two.
Chicks have pale buff down with black spots and lines on the upperparts. They soon leave the nest and run along the beach under adult protection. Parents may feign injury to draw danger away.
Non-breeding adults have gray in place of black and a gray-brown crown and hindneck. Juveniles are similar but have brown breast bands and pale buff edges to upperpart feathers.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.