Semipalmated plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Identification Tips:
- Small shorebird
- Short, thin bill
- Upperparts brownish-gray
- Underparts white
- White collar
Adult alternate
- Black breast band
- Orange legs
- Orange base to dark bill
- White forehead and line behind eye
- Black patch around eye, across forehead, and to bill
- Gray crown
Adult basic
- Breast band paler
- Orange to yellow legs
- Dark bill
- Facial markings paler
Juvenile
- Similar to adult in basic plumage
- Upperparts neatly fringed with white
- Yellowish legs
Similar species:
The Snowy and Piping Plovers have much paler upperparts and less complete
breast bands. Wilson's Plover has a thicker bill and flesh-colored legs.
Killdeer has two breast bands.