Plovers · Shorebirds
Black-bellied Plover
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Pluvialis squatarola
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Voice
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Sonothèque ADVL
How to recognize it
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27–31 cm, thrush-sized
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Breeding plumage black and white; winter plumage grey-brown above, whitish below
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Short dark bill, grey legs
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Fast running with sudden stops; call "tuu-lee-tuu-lee"
About the species
On shorelines and tidal flats, the Black-bellied Plover moves with quick runs and sudden stops, scanning around before darting off again. Its call is a mournful, fairly musical “tuu-li-tuu-li” or “tyuirli”.
It feeds by sight and takes small molluscs, worms, crustaceans, insects, and other shoreline invertebrates. Outside the breeding season it keeps to coastal ground, and on migration it may appear far from land, stopping on very large lakes only when forced down or to feed.
It breeds in Arctic tundra and on northern coastal islands, nesting on open, dry ground in a shallow scrape. For winter, it moves to coasts across much of the world, and it is usually seen there alone or in loose spacing rather than in tight flocks.
Where to find
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Along canal banks, pond edges, and large reservoir shallows — foraging at the muddy margin with quick runs and sudden stops.
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On sandy spits and exposed tidal flats after low tide — usually spaced apart, pecking prey from the surface.
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By reed-fringed shores in early morning — walking the wet edge and sometimes giving a drawn-out call.
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On winter seafronts and rocky breakwaters — visible on open patches where retreating water leaves little pools of food.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Pluvialis squatarola Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Grey plover Encyclopedia article