Round and stocky little plover that frequently stands in a horizontal position. Breeding adult has a short, orange bill with a black tip, a black crown stripe and black neck band.
Nonbreeding adults and immature birds have an all-black bill but lack the black neck band and black crown mark of breeding adults.
A stocky little plover with sandy upperparts, white underparts, and yellowish-orange legs in all seasons. Nonbreeding adult has a black bill and a partial brown collar.
Note the extremely pale, sand-colored upperparts in all plumages.
Juvenile has a plain face, a stubby black bill, and yellow legs.
Forages on shorelines and mudflats; uses stout bill to probe mainly for marine worms.
In flight, note pale rump and white wingstripe.
Chick is capable of walking several hours after hatching.
Forages alone or in small groups sticking to the higher parts of the shoreline relative to other shorebirds.
Click on an image to compare
Piping Plovers are round and stocky little plovers that frequently stand in a horizontal position. They also have round heads and large dark eyes that give them a big-eyed look. The bill is short and stubby.
Larger than a Least Sandpiper, smaller than a Black-bellied Plover.
between sparrow and robinPlovers and Lapwings(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Charadriidae)
The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.
