Mountain Plover Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesMountain Plover
Breeding adult
Medium-sized shorebird of inland shortgrass prairies. Stands with an upright posture. Pale brown above with a white face, a black forehead mark, and a black line in front of the eye.
© Stephan Lorenz / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, April 15, 2020Breeding
Has classic plover habit of taking several quick steps and then stopping short. Pale brown back, lack of bands on breast, and upland habitat set it apart from other plovers.
© Benjamin Clock / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 06, 2011Juvenile
Juveniles are brownish above with a buffy breast and face.
© Gary Nunn / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, November 15, 2017Breeding adult
Upright shorebird with a peachy wash on the neck and shoulders. During the breeding season has a black line in front of the eye.
© Shawn Billerman / Macaulay LibraryWyoming, June 23, 2014Habitat
Winters on fields of harvested grain, grazed grasslands, and tilled fields.
© Howard King / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 03, 2016Similar SpeciesKilldeer
Adult
Killdeer have longer tails and shorter legs than Mountain Plovers. Note the double breast bands on Killdeer, but not on Mountain Plovers.
© Davey Walters / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 27, 2016Similar SpeciesAmerican Golden-Plover
Nonbreeding adult
American Golden-Plovers are larger than Mountain Plovers. Nonbreeding birds have a smudgier breast than Mountain Plovers, which have a mostly white belly.
© Ronald Newhouse / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 07, 2016Similar SpeciesAmerican Golden-Plover
Juvenile
Juvenile American Golden Plovers have a more mottled back and speckled breast then Mountain Plovers, which have a clean white belly and an evenly colored tan back.
© Luke Seitz / Macaulay LibraryNew Hampshire, September 27, 2011Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Plovers and Lapwings(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Charadriidae)
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