Piping Plover

Charadrius melodus

Did you know?

Sometimes, Piping Plovers will stand with one foot in front of their bodies and vibrate it in the sand as a wave passes. This is thought to possibly attract invertebrates to the surface where they can easily grab them.

While pairs often change between years, during the breeding season a pair will remain monogamous.

An adult Piping Plover weights the same as a half stick of butter (2 ounces)

Description

• Small shorebird
• Short orange beak with a black tip and orange legs
• White belly and sand coloured back, wings and tail
• Adult birds of this species will have a black breast band as well as a black band on their forehead

Habitat

• Sandy or gravely beaches just out of reach of the water and waves
• It will spend all it’s time between the beach and the water outside of migration where they forage for freshwater invertebrates
• They will nest above the highwater mark in these soft sandy areas with sparse vegetation

Threats

• Harassment by humans, off-leash dogs, outdoor and feral cats, and vehicles
• Destruction of beach habitat for development
• Grooming beaches reduces hiding spots for the bird’s nest and make them more venerable to predators
• Water level changes that alter habitat (while this can reduce habitat some years it can create habitat in others)

Photo Gallery