Bird Sightings: Grey Plover

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Hebrides Bird Sightings: Grey Plover

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Photography © Terry Fountain
Stinky Bay - Benbecula - Outer Hebrides (Western Isles)
11th January, 2008

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

AKA: Sea Plover, Silver Plover, Black-bellied Plover

Passage/Winter Visitor, AMBER LIST: 43,000 (Winter), Spring passage 70,000 BTO (

Breeds: Arctic Islands & coasts: North Russia, Alaska, Canada, (nest shallow scrape - open areas)

Winters: Coasts world-wide: Europe to Australia

Habitat: Coast bird: Estuaries muddy or sandy. Tundra (migration pasture)

Diet: Summer: insects. Winter: marine worms, crustaceans, molluscs (Stands upright. Runs & suddenly stops to feed)

Rump white. Short, heavy bill.( ID in flight from other plovers: inner flanks & feathers base of underwing black
Summer adult:silver & black spotted above. Black breast & belly (also black face & neck which have white border).
Winter adult: loses black feathers & goes browny-grey with grey-speckled breast & white belly. Winter flight shows black 'armpits'.
Juvenile & first-winters similar to adult winter, but back feathers blacker with creamy white edges.
Usually just a few birds.

Listen to a grey plover (RSPB site)

Similar birds: golden plover

In July the first of the migrant adults arrive in the UK. The younger birds follow in August and September. Young birds often stay on wintering grounds until their 2nd summer. Those leaving go in April and May.

Terry Fountain's web site:
http://www.hebridesphotographic.com

Other local bird photographs

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