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.