Plover
Plovers are a diverse group of noisy birds belonging to the family Charadriidae, with around 65 species classified into 11 genera. Typically measuring between 6 and 12 inches in length, these birds exhibit feathering that aids in camouflage with their surroundings, featuring light-colored plumage below and various markings on their heads and necks. Unlike many shorebirds, plovers do not wade into the water for food; instead, they forage along the water's edge in soft mud, primarily feeding on insects, crustaceans, and occasionally berries. Their habitats include marshlands, grasslands, and sandy shorelines.
During mating season, plovers engage in elaborate aerial displays and ground behaviors to attract partners, with males creating scrapes in the ground for females to choose as nesting sites. Females typically lay two to five spotted eggs, which they incubate for 18 to 38 days. The young are precocial and are ready to fly after 21 to 42 days. However, many nests face threats from rising water and predators. Several plover species, such as the southern New Zealand dotterel and the New Zealand shore plover, are considered endangered, highlighting the ecological challenges facing these birds.
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Plover
Plovers are known to be noisy birds. The feathering of plovers allows them to blend in with their surroundings. Unlike other shorebirds, plovers do not wade in the water for food. Instead, they pick along the water's edge finding food in the soft mud.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadriidae
Genus: Various (see below)
Species: Various (see below)
Eleven genera organize around 65 plover species in the subfamily Charadriinae. The average plover is 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 centimeters) long. The smallest species, the Madagascar plover (Anarhynchus thoracicus), weighs 1 to 1 1/2 ounces (31 to 43 grams). One of the largest species, the black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola) weighs nearly 10 ounces (280 grams). Males are slightly larger than females. Plovers' plumage, or feathering, is usually light-colored below, with the head and neck feathers displaying various markings. These markings help plovers blend in with their surroundings. Plovers molt, or lose, their body feathers twice, and their flight feathers once, each year.
Plovers live in marshlands, lake edges, grasslands, steppes, and sometimes drier areas away from water. True plovers or sand plovers are found along muddy, sandy shorelines, along rivers, and further inland where wild fields grow.
Although plovers are considered shorebirds, they do not wade in the water when feeding. Most often, plovers feed in damp areas along the water's edge. An exception is the white-tailed lapwing (Vanellus leucurus), which feeds on land and in the water, dunking its head below the surface. Plovers feed on various animals including insects, insect larvae, beetles, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, and occasionally berries.
Arriving at their breeding grounds, some plovers may already have found mates. Others find mates shortly after arriving. Mate selection can be aggressive and noisy. The birds frequently engage in aerial displays, twisting, twirling, and diving through the air. These displays continue on the ground as the birds run around, droop their wings, and fan their tails while bowing and curtsying to one another.
Male plovers make scrapes, or shallow holes in the ground. They can make many scrapes in open areas where the ground is covered with light layers of vegetation. The females choose a scrape in which to lay their eggs.
After mating, females lay two to five spotted eggs and incubate them for 18 to 38 days. The incubation process involves her sitting on the eggs and allowing her body heat to keep them warm. During this time, many nests are lost to rising water and predators. The young are ready to fly after 21 to 42 days.
The plover's call is a variety of one- to three-syllable calls repeated.
The southern New Zealand dotterel (Charadrius obscurus obscurus), Siberian sand plover (Anarhynchus mongolus), sociable lapwing (Vanellus gregarius), Javan lapwing (Vanellus macropterus), and New Zealand shore plover (Charadrius novaeseelandiae) are endangered species.
Representative species of plovers:
American golden plover Pluvialis dominica
Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola
Blacksmith plover Vanellus armatus
European golden plover Pluvialis apricaria
Greater sand plover Charadrius leschenaultia
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Kittlitz's plover Anarhynchus pecuarius
Northern Lapwing, or peewit Vanellus vanellus
Masked plover Vanellus miles
New Zealand shore plover Charadrius novaeseelandiae
Puna plover Anarhynchus alticola
Red-wattled lapwing Vanellus indicus
African wattled lapwing Vanellus senegallus
White-tailed lapwing Vanellus leucurus
Wrybill Anarhynchus frontalis
Bibliography
"Charadriidae." BioKIDS, The Regents of the University of Michigan, www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Charadriidae. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.
Vinelli, Ryan. "Charadrius Melodus." Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Charadrius‗melodus. Accessed 15 Apr. 2024.