Piping Plover Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesPiping Plover
Breeding adult
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.
© Forest Botial-Jarvis / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 09, 2020Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding adults and immature birds have an all-black bill but lack the black neck band and black crown mark of breeding adults.
© Jack Parlapiano / Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 16, 2019Nonbreeding adult
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.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryTexas, February 16, 2022Nonbreeding/immature
Note the extremely pale, sand-colored upperparts in all plumages.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, September 03, 2018Juvenile
Juvenile has a plain face, a stubby black bill, and yellow legs.
© Sue Barth / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 15, 2016Breeding adult
Forages on shorelines and mudflats; uses stout bill to probe mainly for marine worms.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, April 22, 2011Adult
In flight, note pale rump and white wingstripe.
© Doug Hitchcox / Macaulay LibraryMaine, April 11, 2017Chick
Chick is capable of walking several hours after hatching.
© Gates Dupont / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 04, 2015Nonbreeding adult/immature
Forages alone or in small groups sticking to the higher parts of the shoreline relative to other shorebirds.
© Keith M Kemp / Macaulay LibraryCentral Abaco, Hope Town and Green Turtle Cay, September 24, 2016Similar SpeciesWilson's Plover
Breeding adult
Wilson's Plovers have a larger bill than Piping Plovers. They also have beige legs while Piping Plovers have yellow legs year-round.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, April 23, 2007Similar SpeciesSnowy Plover
Nonbreeding adult
Snowy Plovers have a thinner bill than Piping Plovers. The breast band on Snowy Plovers is incomplete but is usually complete on nonbreeding Piping Plovers.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2013Similar SpeciesSnowy Plover
Breeding adult
Breeding Snowy Plovers have thinner, all black bills while breeding Piping Plovers have a stubby bill with an orange base. Snowy Plovers have dark legs year-round and Piping Plovers have yellow legs.
© Sam Heinrich / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 17, 2016Similar SpeciesSemipalmated Plover
Juvenile
Juvenile Semipalmated Plovers are darker overall than Piping Plovers.
© Alix d'Entremont / Macaulay LibraryNova Scotia, August 27, 2014Similar SpeciesSemipalmated Plover
Nonbreeding adult
Semipalmated Plovers are darker overall than Piping Plovers with a darker and more complete breast band.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 01, 2016Similar SpeciesSemipalmated Plover
Breeding adult
Breeding Semipalmated Plovers are darker overall with thicker black breast band than breeding Piping Plovers.
© Ross Gallardy / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, June 11, 2016Similar SpeciesKilldeer
Adult
Killdeers are larger than Piping Plovers with 2 obvious black breast bands.
© Davey Walters / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 27, 2016Similar SpeciesSanderling
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding Sanderlings have a longer bill than Piping Plovers. They also have black (not yellow) legs.
© Ryan Schain / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, November 16, 2014Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Plovers and Lapwings(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Charadriidae)
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