piping plover

Charadrius melodus Conservation status

Near Threatened (IUCN 3.1) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Aves

Order: Charadriiformes

Family: Charadriidae

Genus: Charadrius

Species: C. melodus

Binomial name Charadrius melodus

(Ord, 1824)

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck during the breeding season. It runs in short starts and stops. It is difficult to see when standing still as it blends well with open, sandy beach habitats. Males and females are difficult, if not impossible to tell apart. During the breeding season the males generally have a thicker black band around the neck while females have a thinner band.

There are 2 subspecies of Piping Plovers: the eastern population is known as Charadrius melodus melodus and the mid-west population is known as Charadrius melodus circumcinctus. The bird's name is derived from its plaintive bell-like whistles which are often heard before the bird is visible.

Total population is currently estimated at about 6,410 individuals. A preliminary estimate showed 3,350 birds in 2003 on the Atlantic Coast alone, 52% of the total.[1] The population has been increasing since 1991.

Their breeding habitat includes beaches or sand flats on the Atlantic coast, the shores of the Great Lakes and in the mid-west of Canada and the United States. They nest on sandy or gravel beaches or sandbars. These shorebirds forage for food on beaches, usually by sight, moving across the beaches in short bursts. Generally, Piping Plovers will forage for food around the high tide "wrack line" and along the waters edge. They mainly eat insects, marine worms and crustaceans. Contents [hide] 1 Description 2 Subspecies 3 Vocalizations 4 Habitat 5 Migration and breeding 6 Behavior 7 Status 8 Historical and current conservation 9 References 10 Further reading 11 External links //

Description

The Piping Plover is a stout bird with a large rounded head, a short thick neck and a stubby bill. It is a sand-colored, dull gray/khaki, sparrow-sized shorebird. The adult has yellow- orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck during the breeding season. Its bill is orange with a black tip. It ranges from 6.75–7 in (17–18 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 18–18.75 in (45–47 cm) and a mass of 1.5–1.7 oz (43–47 g).

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized, including nominate C. m. melodus of the Atlantic Coast and C. m. circumcinctus of the prairies. On average, circumcinctus is darker overall with more contrastingly dark cheeks and lores. Breeding male circumcinctus shows more extensive black on forehead and bill-base and more often shows complete breats-bands. Some overlap exists.