About the Piping Plover
The piping plover 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. It typically runs in short, quick spurts and then stops.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae) |
| Species | Charadrius melodus |
| Species Codes | pipplo, PIPL |
| Conservation | NT Near Threatened |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Piping Plover belong to?
The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) belongs to the Plovers and Lapwings family (Charadriidae), in the order Charadriiformes.
What is the conservation status of the Piping Plover?
The Piping Plover is classified as "Near Threatened" (NT) by IUCN Red List.
How can I identify the Piping Plover?
The piping plover 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 thick...
Where can I report a Piping Plover sighting?
You can log sightings of Piping Plover on eBird (ebird.org) using species code pipplo, or on iNaturalist.