Plovers

Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus

Family Charadriidae (Plovers)

Size: 7"

Season: Summer

Habitat: Open sand or mudflats, coastal beaches

The piping plover is rare and threatened due to disturbance to its open, sandy habitat and is often heard before being seen because of its cryptic coloration. It is a small plover with a short, thick bill. Its plumage is pale sandy gray above and white below with a gray breast band. The legs are orange. In breeding plumage the breast band is black, there is a black patch above the forehead, and the bill turns orange with a black tip. Juveniles are similar to winter adults. In flight the white tail coverts and wing bars are conspicuous. Piping plovers scoot and stop across the sand, pecking for small invertebrates, and voice a sharp, high-pitched pip-pip-pip or pee-low. The breeding adult (bottom) and nonbreeding adult (top) are illustrated.