Black-bellied Plover -Pluvialis squatarola

	Classification  Kingdom: Animalia  Phylum: Chordata  Class: Aves  Order: Charadriiformes  Family: Charadriidae  Genus: Pluvialis
ICUN Redlist - World Status: Least Concern

Description

The black-bellied plover is a medium-sized shorebird. It is 10-13 inches in length with a wingspan of 24 inches. It has long legs; a short, pointed black bill; a round head and; a white wing stripe that is visible when it is in flight. It is the only American plover with a hind toe on its foot. Its wings extend beyond its tail when they are folded. It has a brown, black, and gray back; a white rump and belly; and a grayish-brown breast. During breeding season, its breast, face, throat, and belly are black, and it has a white stripe running from its forehead down the back and sides of its neck. Males and females look similar, but the male is more brightly colored. The black-bellied plover looks similar to the American golden plover, but the American golden plover doesn't have a white rump or wing stripe!

Range

The black-bellied plover breeds along the Arctic coast from western Alaska to Baffin Island, Canada. It winters along the Pacific coast from British Columbia south to Mexico and along the Atlantic Coast from Massachusetts south to Central America, Bermuda, the Caribbean, and southern South America. It also winters along the Gulf Coast.

Habitat

The black-bellied plover breeds on the Arctic tundra. It winters on coastal estuaries, beaches, mudflats, the shores of ponds and lakes, grassy meadows, and flooded fields. In the winter, it is often found with other shorebirds like willets, American golden plovers, and redknots.

Diet

The black-bellied plover eats insects on its breeding ground and clams, worms, and small crabs on its winter grounds. It chases its prey by running, stopping, and pecking!

Life Cycle

The male builds a scrape on the ground and the female lines it with pebbles, lichens, moss, and dried grass. The female lays 1-4 eggs and both the male and the female incubate them for 26-27 days. The chicks are precocial and walk and feed themselves shortly after birth. Both parents care for the chicks. The chicks fledge at 35-45 days. The female has one brood a year.

Behavior