Black-bellied plover Pluvialis squatarola

Identification Tips:

• Medium-sized, long-winged shorebird
• White wing stripe
• White rump
• Short, fairly thick, dark bill
• Legs black

Adult alternate

• Black face, throat, and breast
• White border to black face and throat
• Pale gray crown and nape
• Black and white spotted back and wings
• White belly and undertail coverts

Adult basic

• Medium gray upperparts with paler edging
• Pale gray breast
• White supercilium
• White underparts
• Black axillars visible in flight

Juvenile

• Similar to adult basic but upperparts have more contrast
• Black and white spotted tertials
• Finely streaked breast
• White supercilium
• Black axillars visible in flight

Similar species:

This plover is most similar to the Lesser, Greater, and Pacific Golden-Plovers. In alternate plumage, the Black-bellied Plover lacks the gold tones to the upperparts and has white undertail coverts. In basic and juvenile plumages, the Black-bellied Plover is most distinctive in flight with its black axillars, white rump, and white wing stripe, all of which the golden-plovers lack. At rest, the Black-bellied is grayer with a thicker bill.