Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Breeding in the high arctic and wintering along the coasts of all continents except Antarctica, this is one of the more cosmopolitan of our shorebirds. They are starting to molt into breeding (alternate) plumage. This male Black-bellied Plover is almost all the way there with just a few winter (basic) plumage feathers remaining. They have a black belly only in breeding plumage. This is the largest plover found in North America where it is most commonly encountered along the coast. In some parts of the world this species is called the "Grey Plover." Based on its unique hind toe, it was formerly placed in its own genus, "Squatarola" but was merged into "Pluvialis" by the AOS in 1973.