Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

This is an adult in breeding plumage and probably a male based on the black lores and lack of white supercilium. This small plover breeds in the American Arctic and winters on both coasts of North and Middle America where they are locally fairly common. This species is almost identical to the Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) which replaces it in Eurasia. They can be tricky to distinguish in the field, but their vocalizations are noticeably different. Note the black on the face meets above the gape in Semipalmated.