Black-bellied
Plover
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Common Name:
Black-bellied Plover
Class:
Aves
Order:
Charadriiformes
Family:
Charadriidae
Genus:
Pluvialis
Species:
Pluvialis squatarola
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TAXONOMY
The Black-bellied Plover (also known as
the Grey Plover) belongs to the nominal family of the
order Charadriiformes, which mainly consists of medium
to large shorebirds. They are moderately large, stocky
wading birds that are approximately 28-29 cm in length,
have relatively short bills, and weigh around 200 g. In
terms of appearance, Black-bellied plovers look much
different depending on the time of the year. During the
fall and winter months (August to April), their backs
and rumps are a drab gray-brown and their under-parts
are most commonly white. Certain birds also exhibit
brown flecking on the breast. During the spring and
summer months (April to September), Black-bellied
Plovers molt to obtain their breeding plumage. Males
obtain completely black under-pars with bright white
streaks that come down the side of their heads and
necks. Their backs are speckled with black and white
spots. This type of coloration with the under-parts
being darker than the back is known as reverse
counter-shading and make the male more conspicuous so
that it can attract mates more easily. Females look a
duller than males during the breeding season, and many
lack the definitive white head striping. Also, their
bellies and under-parts usually have some white mixed in
with the black.
HABITAT/DIET
Black-bellied Plovers are coastal birds that live on
a very wide range of latitudes. In North America, they breed on the
coasts of western Alaska and in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago on
dry tundra that has abundant lichens and small shrubs. This is also
where they forage during the breeding season, primarily feeding on
insects. They spend their winters on essentially the every coastline
of America, Mexico, and Central America, as well as on neighboring
islands. During high tide on these coastlines, they roost in flocks
on the upper part of beaches, dunes, and pastures. When the tide
goes out, they forage on muddy and sandy flatlands for crustaceans
and marine worms, as well as oysters and clams. They can also
occasionally by found in rocky areas or in freshwater habitats more
inland.
BEHAVIOR
Black-bellied Plovers generally forage on their own
but roost and fly in small flocks of usually less than 20
individuals. They are largely inactive during high tide and during
low tide they can get around by flying, running, or swimming. They
are often seen bathing by dunking their heads in the water,
splashing around, and preening. Black-bellied Plovers are also
relatively territorial, with males staking out their own foraging
and breeding territories that can reach up to a couple hundred
meters in radius. They defend these territories with aggressive
threat displays that involve ruffling feathers, flicking pebbles,
and even running at an intruder. In terms of reproduction, Black-bellied Plovers are
thought to be completely monogamous and form pair bonds that last
for the duration of the breeding season. The males attract females
through a flight display where they glide over the ground with their
necks outstretched and sometimes zigzag before ascending again and
dashing towards the ground. After mating, females lay eggs in a
shallow scrape nest and the clutch size is virtually always 4. Both
parents incubate the eggs and brood the hatchlings which are
precocial, meaning that they are born covered in down and can leave
the nest soon after hatching. Fledging occurs after about 23 days
which is relatively short for large shorebirds.
WHERE TO FIND THEM
Black-bellied Plovers can be seen during the spring
and fall migration on the coast of any major water source, such as
Lake Erie or Lake Ontario.
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