You may have heard about the plover bird that is little and beautiful. In this article from TekeTrek, I will tell you more about it, how it lives, reproduces, and feeds, and we will list the most important distinctive facts about it.
About the plover bird
Plovers are small, round, stocky birds that stand in a horizontal position. Their round heads and large dark eyes give them a large appearance. It belongs to the family Charadriidae, order Charadriiformes.
- There are thirty species, each species ranging in length from 15 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches).
- It has long wings and legs, a short neck, and short, straight beaks.
- It is brown, gray or sandy above and white below.
- Ringed plovers have white foreheads and one or two black bands across the breast.
- The golden (Pluvialis species) and black-bellied (Squatarola squatarola) have minute patterns that are dark and light above and black below.
Color pattern
The plover is a sandy-gray brown bird with white underparts and a narrow broken collar.
- Its legs are permanently yellowish-orange.
- It has an orange bill with a black tip, a black collar, and a black line on the forehead in the breeding season.
- The bill becomes black, the collar is gray in the non-breeding season.
Plover habitats
The plover bird is spread throughout the world, except for the Sahara and the Polar regions.
- It is found on the Atlantic coast of the United States, the shores of the ocean or the Gulf and the Great Lakes.
- It breeds on ocean beaches in the Northeast, and lake shores and alkaline wetlands in the northern Great Plains and Great Lakes.
- It nests at the high water mark in soft sandy areas or even dry uplands far from the water.
- They use coastal beaches, sandflats and mudflats in winter.
- It builds nests higher up on the beach near the beach grass.
- Most species suffer from habitat loss due to mining activities in their area, and you may find them nesting in waste sand piles resulting from nearby mines as an alternative to sandbars.
Plover behaviors
The plover bird is somewhat invisible. It runs short distances, then stops and leans forward to pull an insect or worm out of the soft sand.
- It likes to forage alone or in small groups clinging to the upper parts of the shoreline compared to other shorebirds.
- It migrates from the northern part in the summer to the south in the winter. It also migrates to the Gulf of Mexico, the southern Atlantic coast of the United States, and the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas.
- It migrates north in mid-March, with its breeding areas extending from southern Newfoundland south to the northern parts of South Carolina.
- Migrates south in August September Most head south to spend the winter.
Plover food
The plover feeds mainly on invertebrates, including insects and worms, depending on its habitat.
It obtains its food through a running and pausing technique, rather than continuous scanning.
They hunt by sight, not feel as with waders.
Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
The plover bird is found in various parts of the world, including a species that nests in the north and travels and feeds in flocks, including:
- The Eurasian Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) is a long-distance migratory bird.
- The European Golden Plover spends the summer in Iceland.
- The American golden plover (P. dominica) breeds in the Arctic and winters in the Southern Hemisphere.
- It travels from the eastern part, flying over the Atlantic Ocean and South America southward until it reaches Patagonia, and then returns mostly through the Mississippi Valley, while in the western range birds travel in groups of islands in the South Pacific Ocean.
Reproduction in the plover
- Plovers reproduce by laying eggs. The brood period is short, as the chicks can fly as soon as they mature.
- Plovers arrive on sandy beaches to breed in mid-March
- Males mate in late March.
- The male then digs several nests along the raised beach near the beach grass line.
- The male also performs courtship rituals, such as throwing stones or repeatedly diving.
- The females then evaluate it, choose a good nest, and decorate it with shells and debris to camouflage it.
- The female then allows the male to have intercourse with her.
- Females lay one egg daily, sometimes three, two, or four eggs.
- The eggs are incubated by both the male and the female, with the incubation period lasting up to 27 days.
- After the chicks hatch, they can walk within hours.
- Plovers use round wire cages with covered tops to protect nests from predators during the incubation period, allowing adults to enter and exit.
Interesting facts about plover
Among the most prominent facts about the plover bird:
- Avoid the nesting area and do not antagonize the birds.
- If you cannot avoid his location, do not walk directly toward him or make eye contact with him.
- It is recommended to wear a hat or bicycle helmet when in the vicinity.
- If the nest site is in poor condition, place a protective fence or chair over the nest so that birds can come and go safely until the chicks hatch.
FAQ
- Who are the plover birds?
A small bird with black and white feathers. It lives in the eastern and western regions and feeds on insects.
- What do plover birds eat?
The plover feeds on insects, worms, seeds and grasses.
- What does a bird need to live (plover)?
The plover bird needs water to drink and food to maintain its strength.
- What is plover known for?
Plovers are known for their distinctive high-pitched calls and behavior of running along shorelines looking for food.
- What makes a bird a plover?
Plovers are typically small to medium-sized birds with round bodies, short beaks, and long legs.
- Are there plovers in the UK?
Yes, there are several species of plovers that can be found in the UK.
In short, the plover bird is a carnivorous animal that reproduces eggs and is spread around the world, except for the Sahara and the Polar regions.
