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'''Alternative name: Black-bellied Plover''' | '''Alternative name: Black-bellied Plover''' | ||
| − | [[Image:Grey_Plover.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Winter plumaged bird<br />Photo by {{user| | + | [[Image:Grey_Plover.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Winter plumaged bird<br />Photo by {{user|mjmw|mjmw}}<br /> Sanibel Island, [[Florida]], [[USA]], December 2005]] |
;[[:Category:Pluvialis|Pluvialis]] squatarola | ;[[:Category:Pluvialis|Pluvialis]] squatarola | ||
==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | A large, compact '' | + | [[Image:Black-bellied_Plover_by_blubird.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Breeding plumaged bird<br />Photo by {{user|blubird|blubird}}<br /> Ft. De Soto Park, [[Florida]], [[USA]], April 2009]] |
| + | 27–31 cm(10½-12¼ in)<br /> | ||
| + | A large, compact ''Pluvialis'' plover with totally white undertail [[Topography#General Anatomy|coverts]]. Shows black [[Dictionary A-C#A|axillaries]] ("wingpits") in all plumages and a big, strong bill. Has a tiny hind toe which the other ''Pluvialis'' plovers lack. | ||
| − | In '''breeding''' plumage has upperside | + | In '''breeding''' plumage has upperside metallic bicoloured back with black and white spots, and front black from eyes down to between the legs; the black area is adjacent to a broad white band from forecrown to upper breast, but the black area disappears behind the wings by the lower breast. Males have slightly more extensive and solid black than females. |
| − | In '''winter''' plumage shows streaking on breast and strongly patterned upperside, which is rather coldly | + | In '''winter''' plumage shows streaking on breast and less strongly patterned upperside, which is rather coldly coloured. The [[Topography#Heads|supercilium]] is quite prominent. |
| − | + | '''Juvenile''' has streaked breast and pale cap, and can show quite strongly yellowish colours. | |
| − | '''Juvenile''' has streaked breast and pale cap, and can show quite strongly | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | In '''flight''', the white uppertail coverts (appears as a "white rump"), barred tail, black axillaries ("armpits" or "wingpits") and bold white wing stripe are evident. | ||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
| − | + | [[Image:2017-10-04 12-30-23.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Early Autumn plumage<br />Photo by {{user|birdthing|birdthing}}<br />[[Titchwell Marsh]], [[Norfolk]], September 2017]] | |
| + | The other [[:Pluvialis|''Pluvialis'']] species (the three golden plovers) are slightly smaller with smaller head, thinner bill, and have dark tail, a less obvious or no wing stripe, and white or grey, not black, axillaries. | ||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | Breeds between | + | Breeds between 65°N and 75°N in the Arctic Tundra (north-eastern [[Europe]], northern [[Asia]] and northern [[Canada]]). The non-breeding range includes almost all coastlines between 50°N and 40°S; also wintering north to 60°N in NW Europe. |
| + | ==Taxonomy== | ||
| + | [[Image:IMG 7239L.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo by {{user|Scridifer|Scridifer}}<br />Pomorie Lake, [[Bulgaria]], November 2016]] | ||
| + | This is considered a [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]] species by some authors<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, while other authorities recognise three subspecies, nominate ''P. s. squatarola'' (Europe, Asia, [[Alaska]]), ''P. s. cynosurae'' (North America except Alaska; marginally smaller) and ''P. s. tomkovichi'' (Wrangel Island in north-eastern Asia; marginally larger)<sup>[[#References|[3]]], [[#References|[4]]]</sup>. | ||
| − | + | In the past, the species was occasionally split from ''Pluvialis'' into its own genus ''Squatarola'', but this is no longer accepted<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>. | |
| − | |||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| − | Breeds in tundra without trees, winters on muddy and sandy areas almost exclusively along coasts. | + | Breeds in arctic tundra without trees, winters on muddy and sandy areas almost exclusively along coasts. |
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | All ''Pluvialis'' plovers have a habit of lifting their wings straight up without actually flying off, which helps a lot with seeing the | + | All ''Pluvialis'' plovers have a habit of occasionally lifting their wings straight up without actually flying off, which helps a lot with seeing the colour of the axillaries. |
| + | ====Diet==== | ||
| + | Their rather varied diet consists of insects, larvae and other invertebrates such as beetles. Also some plant material like grass seeds and stems. | ||
====Vocalisation==== | ====Vocalisation==== | ||
<flashmp3>Pluvialis squatarola (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Pluvialis squatarola (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Pluvialis squatarola (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Pluvialis squatarola (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| + | ==Gallery== | ||
| + | Click on photo for larger image | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Image:BB_Plover_flight.jpg|Flight shot showing black axillaries ("wingpits")<br />Photo by {{user|HelenB|HelenB}}<br />[[Matagorda Bay Nature Park]], [[Texas]], [[USA]], May 2010 | ||
| + | Image:Grey Plover 00000002 01.jpg|Photo by {{user|Mzungu|Mzungu}}<br />Wellington Point, Brisbane, [[Queensland]], October 2017 | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#{{Ref-HBWVol3}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.3}}#Cramp, S. (ed.) ''Birds of the Western Palearctic'' 3: 216-226 (1983). | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Pluvialis+squatarola}} | {{GSearch|Pluvialis+squatarola}} | ||
| + | <br /> | ||
| + | {{Video|Grey_Plover}} | ||
| − | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pluvialis]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] | + | [[Category:Birds]] [[Category:Pluvialis]] [[Category:Bird Songs]] [[Category:Videos]] |
Revision as of 21:43, 27 October 2017
Alternative name: Black-bellied Plover
- Pluvialis squatarola
Identification
27–31 cm(10½-12¼ in)
A large, compact Pluvialis plover with totally white undertail coverts. Shows black axillaries ("wingpits") in all plumages and a big, strong bill. Has a tiny hind toe which the other Pluvialis plovers lack.
In breeding plumage has upperside metallic bicoloured back with black and white spots, and front black from eyes down to between the legs; the black area is adjacent to a broad white band from forecrown to upper breast, but the black area disappears behind the wings by the lower breast. Males have slightly more extensive and solid black than females.
In winter plumage shows streaking on breast and less strongly patterned upperside, which is rather coldly coloured. The supercilium is quite prominent.
Juvenile has streaked breast and pale cap, and can show quite strongly yellowish colours.
In flight, the white uppertail coverts (appears as a "white rump"), barred tail, black axillaries ("armpits" or "wingpits") and bold white wing stripe are evident.
Similar Species
The other Pluvialis species (the three golden plovers) are slightly smaller with smaller head, thinner bill, and have dark tail, a less obvious or no wing stripe, and white or grey, not black, axillaries.
Distribution
Breeds between 65°N and 75°N in the Arctic Tundra (north-eastern Europe, northern Asia and northern Canada). The non-breeding range includes almost all coastlines between 50°N and 40°S; also wintering north to 60°N in NW Europe.
Taxonomy
This is considered a monotypic species by some authors[1], while other authorities recognise three subspecies, nominate P. s. squatarola (Europe, Asia, Alaska), P. s. cynosurae (North America except Alaska; marginally smaller) and P. s. tomkovichi (Wrangel Island in north-eastern Asia; marginally larger)[3], [4].
In the past, the species was occasionally split from Pluvialis into its own genus Squatarola, but this is no longer accepted[2].
Habitat
Breeds in arctic tundra without trees, winters on muddy and sandy areas almost exclusively along coasts.
Behaviour
All Pluvialis plovers have a habit of occasionally lifting their wings straight up without actually flying off, which helps a lot with seeing the colour of the axillaries.
Diet
Their rather varied diet consists of insects, larvae and other invertebrates such as beetles. Also some plant material like grass seeds and stems.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Pluvialis squatarola (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Gallery
Click on photo for larger image
Flight shot showing black axillaries ("wingpits")
Photo by HelenB
Matagorda Bay Nature Park, Texas, USA, May 2010
Photo by Mzungu
Wellington Point, Brisbane, Queensland, October 2017
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 1996. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334207
- Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
- Cramp, S. (ed.) Birds of the Western Palearctic 3: 216-226 (1983).
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Grey Plover. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 18 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Grey_Plover
External Links
