Its larger and darker-plumaged sister species, Forbes's plover, replaces it in West Africa and in the moist tropics.

Both species present a distinctively elongated profile, due to their proportionally long tail and wings.

[3] Juveniles of the nominate and Malagasy subspecies also resemble the adults, although the forehead is brownish for a short time, and the wing coverts show buff fringes.

[4] This species is distinguished from the larger and darker Forbes's plover in that the latter has a brown forehead and lacks a white wingbar.

Egg laying occurs from March to June in the tropics,[4] but mainly (over 70%) from July to October (i.e. late winter to early spring) in southern Africa.