Birds of North America
Puzzle 57 · Along Beaches and Mudflats · Page 83 in print
Piping Plover
Piping Plovers share incubation. At a changeover, one parent tips up while the other slides beneath, limiting the time the eggs remain exposed.
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Alkali Lakes
Inland breeding habitat in northern regions.
Brooding
Sheltering chicks beneath the adult’s belly feathers.
Feigning
Pretending to be injured to draw a predator away.
High-stepping
The male’s elevated stepping movement during courtship.
Marine Worms
Small marine animals eaten near the water’s edge.
Neck Band
A dark band marks the breeding adult’s neck.
Orange Bill
The breeding adult’s orange bill has a black tip.
Pale Rump
A pale area visible at the rear in flight.
Parallel Run
A boundary display in which neighboring males run past each other.
Roundworms
Worm prey reported for this plover.
Sand-colored
The very pale color of the upperparts.
Sandflats
Coastal feeding habitat used in winter.
Shell Bits
Small shell fragments used to line the nest.
Tide Line
Piping Plovers nest above the high tide line.
Water Beetles
Aquatic insects included in the diet.
Sources
- Piping Plover: Life HistoryCornell Lab of Ornithology
- Piping Plover: IdentificationCornell Lab of Ornithology