It breeds in parts of Mongolia and China, migrating southwards each year to spend its non-breeding season in Indonesia, New Guinea and northern Australia.

Rare in New Guinea; straggler to New Zealand and Europe four times (Finland, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands).

The oriental plover breeds in dry steppes, deserts, arid grasslands and saltpans.

About 90% of the oriental plovers that make the long journey south overwinter in Australia and it has been estimated that there may be 160,000 individuals of this species.

With a large range and no evidence of significant population decline, this species’ conservation status is rated by the IUCN as being of Least Concern.