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Snowy Plover Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    A small, plump shorebird with a large head, a short, slender bill, and short tail. It has medium-length legs for a shorebird.

    Relative Size

    Smaller than a Semipalmated Plover, larger than a Least Sandpiper.

    Relative Sizebetween sparrow and robinbetween sparrow and robin

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 5.9-6.7 in (15-17 cm)
      • Weight: 1.1-2.0 oz (32.5-58 g)
      • Wingspan: 13.4-17.0 in (34-43.2 cm)

Regional Differences

Snowy Plover has two subspecies that are mostly similar. The western subspecies is slightly larger than the eastern subspecies, with larger black patches on the face.