Snowy Plover Photo Gallery
Breeding adult
Small shorebird with a horizontal posture and a short neck. Breeding adults have a black crown stripe, a dark ear patch, and a black patch on the side of the neck. Pale sandy gray above and white below. Bill is black in all seasons.
© Sharif Uddin / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 16, 2020Nonbreeding/immature
Nonbreeding birds lack the dark crown stripe and have a paler neck stripe. Sandy gray above and white below with a black bill and gray legs.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2013Nonbreeding adult
Rests and forages on the higher parts of the beach with loose sand. Often hunkers down in depressions in the sand to rest.
© Brian Sullivan / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 12, 2013Not all videos have soundNonbreeding/immature
Small shorebird with a horizontal posture and a short, black bill. The facial marks on nonbreeding birds are paler. Note gray legs.
© Collin Stempien / Macaulay LibraryAlabama, November 05, 2018Breeding adult
Some breeding birds show a darker ear patch in addition to the black crown and neck stripe. The bill is dark in all seasons.
© Darren Clark / Macaulay LibraryIdaho, April 24, 2020Breeding adult
Breeds on sparsely vegetated sandy beaches and lake shores.
© Luke SeitzCalifornia, March 25, 2013
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