Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
NTNear Threatened
- Family
- Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae)
- Order
- Charadriiformes
Overview
The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small, sand-colored shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The adult has yellow-orange-red legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black stripe running along the breast line. This chest band is usually thicker in males during the breeding season, and it is the only reliable way to tell the sexes apart. The bird is difficult to see when it is standing still, as it blends well with open, sandy beach habitats.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Continents
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Piping plover
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.