Wilson's plover
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Charadrius wilsonia

Wilson's plover (Charadrius wilsonia ) is a small bird of the family Charadriidae.

Wilson's plover is a coastal wader which breeds on both coasts of the Americas from the equator northwards. Its range extends north to include much of the U.S. eastern seaboard, and the Pacific coast of Mexico on the west.

Appearance

The breeding male has a black breast band, lores and forecrown, and a rufous mask. Females and non-breeding males have a similar plumage, but the black of the breeding male is replaced by brown or rufous. Non-breeders have a greyer tint to the head and breast band.Immature birds are similar to the female, but the breast band is often incomplete. The adult's upper parts are mainly dark grey, with a short white wing bar and white tail sides. The underparts are white except for a breast band, and the legs are pink, brighter when breeding. The dark bill is large and heavy for a plover of this size. The call is a high weak whistle.

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Measurements:

  • Length: 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)
  • Weight: 1.9-2.5 oz (55-70 g)
  • Wingspan: 19 in (48.2 cm)

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Wilson's plover habitat map
Wilson's plover
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Habits and Lifestyle

Seasonal behavior
Bird's call

Diet and Nutrition

Wilson's plovers forage for food on beaches, usually by sight, moving slowly across the beach. They have a liking for crabs, but will also eat insects and marine worms.

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This bird was named after the Scottish-American ornithologist Alexander Wilson by his friend George Ord in 1814.

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Population

References

1. Wilson's plover Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson's_plover
2. Wilson's plover on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22693774/93421931
3. Xeno-canto bird call - https://xeno-canto.org/646551

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