Wilson's Plover Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesWilson's Plover
Breeding adult
Medium-sized shorebird with a big-headed look, and a long, thick bill. Breeding adults have a black band around the neck. Bill is black in all seasons. Often stands with a hunched horizontal posture.
© Melissa James / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, June 18, 2015Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding birds have a pale brown collar. Note the thick black bill and pale legs.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Breeding adult
Superficially like Semipalmated Plover, but with a longer and thicker, almost oversized bill that is all black.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, January 01, 2014Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding birds have a pale brown collar. Note the thick black bill and pale legs.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryGeorgia, September 28, 2016Breeding adult
In flight tip of tail is black with white edges and wings are long and slender.
© Jesse Amesbury / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, May 09, 2016Adult
Often gathers in groups during the nonbreeding season. Hunkers down in the sand to rest away from the water's edge.
© Melissa James / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 09, 2020Breeding adult
Breeding adults have a black neck band. The long, thick black bill is diagnostic.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, April 23, 2007Similar SpeciesPiping Plover
Breeding adult
Piping Plovers have a shorter bill and paler overall coloration than Wilson's Plovers.
© Gates Dupont / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, June 04, 2015Similar SpeciesPiping Plover
Juvenile
Piping Plovers have a shorter bill and are paler overall than Wilson's Plovers. Note leg color difference: yellow on Piping and pale on Wilson's Plovers.
© Sue Barth / Macaulay LibraryNew York, August 15, 2016Similar SpeciesSemipalmated Plover
Nonbreeding adult
Semipalmated Plovers have a shorter bill and yellow legs while Wilson's Plovers have a longer bill and pale legs.
© Daniel Jauvin / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, October 01, 2016Similar SpeciesSemipalmated Plover
Breeding adult
Semipalmated Plovers have a shorter bill and yellow legs while Wilson's Plovers have a longer bill and pale legs.
© Ross Gallardy / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, June 11, 2016Similar SpeciesSnowy Plover
Breeding adult
Snowy Plovers have a thinner bill and are paler overall than Wilson's Plovers.
© Sam Heinrich / Macaulay LibraryFlorida, February 17, 2016Similar SpeciesSnowy Plover
Nonbreeding adult
Snowy Plovers have a thinner bill and are paler overall than Wilson's Plovers.
© Tom Unsicker / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 05, 2016Similar SpeciesKilldeer
Adult
Killdeer are larger than Wilson's Plovers with two breast bands instead of one.
© Davey Walters / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 27, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Plovers and Lapwings(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Charadriidae)
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