Piping Plover Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
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Massachusetts, June 08, 2019Recorded by Noah Henkenius / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Massachusetts, July 20, 1985Recorded by Dolly Minis / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Ontario, July 02, 1963Recorded by William W. H. Gunn / Macaulay Library
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Massachusetts, April 23, 2016Recorded by Ian Davies / Macaulay Library
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Maine, July 22, 2017Recorded by andrew aldrich / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

During the breeding season, the male makes a high-pitched piping call in flight to declare ownership and to advertise to potential mates. The call is less than 1 second, but he repeats it about 4 times per second. He gives a similar call while he digs a small depression in the ground for a potential nest. If the male feels threatened on his territory, he makes a series of rattling, throaty sounds that increase in speed while bobbing his head. The male and female call to each other and their young with a quiet and brief peep.