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Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
Did you know!?!
Sometimes, Piping Plovers will stand with one foot in front of their bodies and vibrate it in the sand as a wave passes. This is thought to possibly attract invertebrates to the surface where they can easily grab them.
While pairs often change between years, during the breeding season a pair will remain monogamous.
An adult Piping Plover weights the same as a half stick of butter (2 ounces).
COSEWIC Status: Endangered
COSSARO Status: Endangered
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Description
- Small shorebird
- Short orange beak with a black tip and orange legs
- White belly and sand coloured back, wings and tail
- Adult birds of this species will have a black breast band as well as a black band on their forehead
Habitat
- Sandy or gravely beaches just out of reach of the water and waves
- It will spend all it’s time between the beach and the water outside of migration where they forage for freshwater invertebrates
- They will nest above the highwater mark in these soft sandy areas with sparse vegetation
Threats
- Harassment by humans, off-leash dogs, outdoor and feral cats, and vehicles
- Destruction of beach habitat for development
- Grooming beaches reduces hiding spots for the bird’s nest and make them more venerable to predators
- Water level changes that alter habitat (while this can reduce habitat some years it can create habitat in others)
Photo Gallery
