These plovers mainly nest in open grassland and dry mudflats surrounding alkaline lakes.

[2][3] The species is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN because of its low breeding success, slow reproductive rate, and weak adaptation to increasing habitat loss, leading to declining population numbers.

[3] Nests are predominantly found in sparsely vegetated habitats such as grasslands, coastal mudflats, salt marshes, edges of alkaline lakes and mangroves, and breeding does not extend more than a few kilometers inland.

[6][5][3] Madagascar plovers are long-lived birds with life-expectancies of approximately 9 years, although there is evidence that individuals can live much longer than this.

[7] A Madagascar plover nest comprises a small scrape in the ground, most commonly in dry soil in grasslands, open mudflats, bordering mangroves and alkaline lakes.

Scrapes are lined with material from plants, both fresh and dry, and can also include small pebbles and shell debris.

[1][2] The small population is believed to be undergoing continuous decline due to pressure on its wetland habitat.

The species is the rarest breeding plover in Madagascar, and it is estimated that the endemic population consists of 3100 ± 396 total individuals, implying 1800-2300 mature birds.

[1] Additionally, nesting success is very low, and life history traits do not enable the species to reproduce quick enough to recover.

[5][2] Three nesting localities are located in protected national parks: Lake Tsimanampetsotsa, Kirindy Mitea, and Baly Bay.