Piping Plover

Small as they are, the name ‘Piping’ certainly suits this species with a short bill. The pale color on their back is the perfect match for the white alkali flats and beaches with white sand. Generally, shorebirds are adaptable and can inhabit the shores of pretty much any area. Piping Plovers are mainly a specialty in North America. In winter, a small flock of them extends at most to Mexico. 

What once used to be their nesting area has slowly been infiltrated by humans. As a result, they have been listed as endangered regardless of which part of their range you look at. 

Today, we’ll learn about: 

• Piping Plover color patterns, songs, and size
• Piping Plover behavior, habitat, and diet
• Piping Plover life cycle, nesting, and migration range

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Piping Plovers Color Pattern

The breeding adult population of Piping Plovers has an orange bill with a tip that’s completely black. Their legs and feet are also orange. They have a snow-white chest, belly, and underparts. 

Their back, though, has a pretty, brownish-gray-colored shade. It appears close to the color of the sandy beaches and rocky hills, which makes it easier for them to hide. On their neck, there is a black neckband. 

On their head, there is a crown of black stripes. The back of their head is gray, but the front has the same, sparkling shade. They also have dark brown eyes with the slightest bit of orange ring around them. 

The non-breeding and immature Piping Plovers don’t look much different from their parents. However, an obvious change is noticeable in the bill. Instead of having that spark of orange on their bill, you see a dark bill. They are also considerably smaller. 

Description And Identification

If you want to see Piping Plovers, the easiest thing you can do is wander around the rocky and sandy shore on the Atlantic coast during the right season. Then, when you do see them, you need to make sure you maintain your distance. They are an endangered species and aren’t too hot about human attention. 

From a distance, keep your binoculars, camera, and other birding gear with you to get a good look at them. Specifically, look around on the sandy open areas. Look closely because their overall white and gray plumage helps them hide in plain sight too well. The fact that they are a small species is no help finding them. 

You have to carefully inspect every part of the land if you want to see them. When you spot them, you may have confusion about whether it is the right species. In that case, you can check whether they have an orange bill with bits of black on it and orange legs. 

Then, you can try to identify them by sound. As their name would tell you, the sound of their call is a piping, high-pitched one. The calls don’t last long, but since the male plovers repeat it for some time, it should give you enough time to look for the sound source. 

The sound Piping Plovers make can also be a good warning when you have gotten too close to them. If you hear a throaty rattle, that’s when you know you need to back off. You are probably around their nest, and they don’t like it. 

Piping Plover Song 

Breeding season hears male Piping Plovers make this piping sound while on a flight or while trying to catch the attention of a mate. These calls are high-pitched and last barely a second. However, they keep on repeating the call rapidly four times in a row. 

The same kind of call is heard when they dig around on the ground to create a bit of space to build a nest. If the Piping Plovers ever feel threatened about their territory, the male produces this throaty, rattling sound. They do this one after the other, with their speed increasing for each sound. At the same time, they are seen head bobbing. 

In between the couples and the young ones, they call out to each other with this peep. This turns out to be a brief, quiet sound, nothing like the aggressive or mating calls. 

Piping Plover Size

A round, stocky shape characterizes the small body of Piping Plovers. They are known to stand horizontally a little too frequently. Compared to their small, round head, their eyes are large and dark. As such, they have this wide-eyed look on them. Then, they have a short bill. 

A good size comparison would let you know the Piping Plovers are bigger if you place them beside Least Sandpiper. Compared to Black-bellied Plover, though, they are a small bunch. In length, they happen to be 17 to 18 cm at most. Their weight range isn’t much to write home about either, stopping at about 43 to 63 g. Devastatingly, not much is known about their wingspan. The only thing we know is that they have unusually short wings. 

Piping Plover Behavior

Their typical behavior includes running some steps only to take a short pause. Then, they start running again. While the Piping Plovers are running, they continue to peck the ground provided they find something they can eat. Sometimes, they will raise one foot and then slide it repeatedly over whatever surface they are standing on. It is assumed, this way, they are trying to startle their small prey out of hiding. 

What Piping Plovers Eat

Insects, crustaceans, and worms of marine nature are included in their diet. In general, not much is known about their diet. If they are on the coast, they will feed on crustaceans, insects, and other such invertebrates of marine nature. 

Their diet chart looks a bit like a mix of insects such as midges, water boatmen, beetles, and shore flies if they are on land. 

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Where Piping Plovers Live And Habitat

The habitat of Piping Plovers includes tidal flats and sandy beach areas. They nest close to the water but don’t let water touch their nests. They stay in open sandy places, among various settings. They seem to have an unusual preference for beaches along the Atlantic coast. The Great Lakes is one of the places they like a lot. 

As for the great northern plain, the rivers there is a well-loved place for the species. They also like sand flats and gravelly spaces near lakes with alkaline water. The Piping Plovers spend their winter on the coasts, beaches, and flats. 

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Range and Migration

A major part of the lives of Piping Plovers is spent on rocks along the shores, sandy beaches, and in general, in dry, high places. Here, water, though available at an easy distance, doesn’t touch their inhabited land. In the US, you may find them right on the Atlantic Coast. 

In Canada, they might show up on the shores of Great Lake or the bay beaches and oceans. They choose the shore area for their nests, specifically the part of the beach where lots of grasses are present. If they aren’t migrating, it is unlikely you will see a Piping Plover around somewhere that’s not rocky or sandy. 

During the winter season, they might travel south to the Bahamas. There are records of them in Cuba. Venezuela, Ecuador, and the West Indies have recorded their occurrence, but it is rare. 

In winter, Piping Plovers leave their northern range where they were in summer to migrate to the south. Their migration schedule includes the Gulf Of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the south of the Atlantic Coast in the US. Their way back north begins somewhere in the middle of March. Their breeding range can start from the north of South Carolina to the south of Newfoundland. Their journey to the south begins somewhere in August, and most of them reach the south once September is well on its way. 

If you liked learning about the Piping Plover migration check out these birds’ migration patterns; Purple Martin migration, Artic Tern migration, and Hummingbird migration.

Piping Plover Life Cycle

At most, Piping Plovers have 4 eggs in a brood. Five eggs are the rarest thing for them. Usually, they will have at least 2 to 3 eggs. The eggs are a pale buff color, reminding one of the sandy beaches. There are botches of brown and black on these eggs. 

Both sets of parents do the incubating part. This process can take about a month, or ideally, 26 to 28 days. 

The downy young can become capable of leaving the nest merely some hours after they have come out of their eggs. At this point, they are capable of feeding themselves. During winter, both parents try to brood the young. However, it takes a couple of days for the female parent to give up and leave the care part to the male parent. 

It is unknown exactly how the development process takes for the young. Anywhere from 21 days to 35 days after they are born, young Piping Plovers become capable of flying. 

Nesting

Male Piping Plovers fight over the breeding territory by performing display and call. The notes are a piping one, as is evident from their name. Their wingbeats during displays are a slow and steady one, with a natural rhythm to them. 

As they stand on the ground, the male plover approaches the female Piping Plover. They stay straight while their neck is stretched out. They stamp their feet around. Their gait also has this weird gap between steps, and they raise their leg high before stomping them down. 

For the nest site, they prefer open ground that’s safe from nearby water bodies. Clumps of grass or rocks might be around these nests. However, the nests themselves don’t seem to receive any shade or shelter from nearby natural sources. Colonies of breeding terns might have nests close to theirs. The nest itself is a scarp work made on the sand. At most, they might use pebbles and shells to line it. 

Anatomy of a Piping Plover

Round, that’s probably the first thing you think of when you look at Piping Plovers. They are a stocky, round-bellied bunch that look nothing like what we think of when someone says shorebirds. They are so small that you might step on them if you aren’t careful while looking for them. 

There is little to no gap between their neck and head. If you look at the head, it is a small, rounded one. And on that head, you see their large, imploring eyes. They have tiny legs with short feet. Their tail is also short, and their wings are so short that you might not see them at all. The bill is a small and short one. 

Final Thoughts

Piping Plovers are a bit isolated compared to other shorebirds. They either forage completely alone or find small groups to socialize in. They also maintain a considerable distance from water bodies. If they aren’t looking for food, they show their expert camouflaging side. 

So, an intense bit of introspection is required on your part so that you can spot them on those sandy lands. At times, they crouch down and away from your line of sight. Other times, you might be able to track their footprints only to see them fade away without any warning. 

In those areas, your binoculars are going to come in particularly handy. Even if you are close to them, due to how good they are mixing with the background, using the equipment can get you a better look at them. 

On that note, when you do see one, don’t wander close to them. The Piping Plovers are on the endangered species list, and it’s best they stay away from human contact. At any point, if you see them calling rapidly or acting like they are injured, back away as fast as you can. There’s a good chance you are close to their nest, and they don’t find it funny. 

They are so low in numbers right now that even on the Great Lakes, where they breed, they are almost gone. So, before you start finding this species, make sure you don’t get too excited on the off chance you spot them. 

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Ornithology

Bird Watching Academy & Camp Subscription Boxes

At Bird Watching Academy & Camp we help kids, youth, and adults get excited and involved in bird watching. We have several monthly subscription boxes that you can subscribe to. Our monthly subscription boxes help kids, youth, and adults learn about birds, bird watching, and bird conservation.

Want to always remember Bird Watching Academy consider purchasing a mug!

Bird Watching Binoculars for Identifying Piping Plover  

The most common types of bird-watching binoculars for viewing Piping Plovers are 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. Bird Watching Academy & Camp sells really nice 8×21 binoculars and 10×42 binoculars. You can view and purchase them here.

Piping Plovers Iron On Patches 

Kids, Youth, and Adults love to collect our Bird Watching Academy & Camp iron-on patches. Our bird-watching patches help you keep track of the birds you have seen and identified. You can also display the patches on our Bird Watching Academy & Camp banners.

The Piping Plovers is a great iron-on patch to start your collection with. The patches are durable and can be sewn on or ironed on to just about anything.

Piping Plovers Stickers

Stickers are a great way for you to display your love for bird watching and the Piping Plovers. Here is the sticker pack we sell with a Piping Plovers sticker.

Bird Feeders For Piping Plovers

There are many types of bird feeders. Here are our favorite bird feeders for your backyard. We use all of these bird feeders currently. Kids will have a great time watching birds eat at these bird feeders. Using this collection of bird feeders will provide a wide variety and many types of birds.

Want to make your own bird feeders check this out. Feel free to check out this hanging bird feeder!

Best Birdhouses for Piping Plovers

There are many types of birdhouses. Building a birdhouse is always fun but can be frustrating. These 4 birdhouses have become our favorites. Getting a birdhouse for kids to watch birds grow is always fun. We spent a little extra money on these birdhouses but they have been worth the higher price and look great.

Here is some birdhouse that you can make. Robin birdhouse, Dove birdhouse, and Wren birdhouse.