Wilson's plover Charadrius wilsonia

Identification Tips:

• Length: 6.25 inches
• Small shorebird
• Short, thick, dark bill
• Legs flesh-colored
• Upperparts medium-gray
• Underparts white
• White collar

Adult alternate

• Broad black breast band
• White forehead and supercilium
• Black patch above white forehead
• Gray crown and cheeks

Adult basic

• Incomplete gray breast band
• White forehead and supercilium
• Gray crown and cheeks

Juvenile

• Incomplete gray breast band
• White forehead and supercilium
• Pale fringes to upperparts
• Gray crown and cheeks

Similar species:

The relatively thick black bill and flesh-colored legs distinguish this species from the other small plovers. Killdeer has two breast bands.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.