Snowy Plover

Snowy Plover, breeding adult; Sanibel, FL; February

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Snowy Plover, adult at its nest; Lido Key, FL; April. Note sand beach location of nest; shells used to line nest; and large eggs in relation to size of adult.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A small plover of beaches and barren ground, the Snowy Plover can be found across North and South America, Eurasia, and Africa. In North America it is restricted to the Gulf and Pacific coasts of the United States, and scattered inland localities from Saskatchewan to California and Texas.

Description

• Small shorebird.
• Legs moderately long.
• Neck short.
• Back pale tan.
• Underparts white.
• Dark patches on sides of neck reaching around onto top of chest.
• Legs dark.

• Size: 15-17 cm (6-7 in)
• Wingspan: 34 cm (13 in)
• Weight: 34-58 g (1.2-2.05 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but in breeding plumage male has black neck patches, forehead, and ear coverts, where female ranges from mostly black to drab.

Sound

Call a husky, trilling "purrt," and a whistled "tur-weet," accented on the second syllable.

Conservation Status

Breeding population has likely decreased on Gulf Coast since late 1800s owing to habitat alteration and increased recreational use of beaches. The population breeding along Pacific Coast of United States and Baja California is listed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as threatened. The species is listed as endangered or threatened in several states.

Other Names

Gravelot à collier interrompu (French)
Chorlitejo patinegro (Spanish)
Kentish Plover (British) (English)

Cool Facts

• The Snowy Plover frequently raises two broods a year, and sometimes three in places where the breeding season is long. The female deserts her mate and brood about the time the chicks hatch and initiates a new breeding attempt with a different male.
• Young Snowy Plovers leave their nest within three hours of hatching. They flatten themselves on the ground when a parent signals the approach of people or potential predators. They walk, run, and swim well and forage unassisted by parents, but require periodic brooding for many days after hatching.

Sources used to construct this page:

Page, G. W., J. S. Warriner, J. C. Warriner, and P. W. C. Paton. 1995. Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). In The Birds of North America, No. 154 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.