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9

Grey Plover

(Pluvialis squatarola)
Alternate name(s): "Black-bellied Plover"
German name(s): "Kiebitzregenpfeifer"

Size: 28-30 cm; wing span 71-83 cm
Weight: 190-280 g (up to 345 g prior to migration)

Similar
species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description

Click here for a physical description

Taxonomy, classification

See Grey Plover at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species

Click here for information on habitat and range

Sightings

Click here for sighting information

Photos

ADULT

BREEDING

MALE

Near-dorsal view of a male Grey Plover in late breeding plumage - note the solid-black sides of the head
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sapal Castro Marim, Vila Real Santo Antonio, Faro, Portugal, September 2020]

FEMALE

Lateral view of a female Grey Plover moulting out of breeding plumage - note the scalloped black-and-white sides of the head, neck and chest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Trancao river, Lisbon, Portugal, September 2021]

PAIR

Near-lateral view of Grey Plovers in late breeding plumage - at the centre of the group two males; a likely female at front left, and two moulting birds back left and right (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, September 2019]

NON-BREEDING

Sex unknown

Near-frontal view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mondego river, Figueira da Foz, Murraceira island, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta de Marim, Ria Formosa, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage; note the heavy bill (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage, with the first few feathers of the new breeding plumage appearing (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, March 2014]

Lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta de Marim, Ria Formosa, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Salinas do Brito, Tejo estuary, Portugal, November 2021]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Palhais, Barreiro, Setubal, Portugal, January 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Alhos Vedros, Tejo estuary, Portugal, February 2019]

Near-dorsal view of resting Grey Plovers in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa dos Salgados, Albufeira, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Dorsal view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Terceira Island, Azores, November 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage in flight, wings up - note the characteristic black axillaries
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Moita do Ribatejo, Setubal, Portugal, November 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montijo, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2019]

Direct comparison of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage with two Common Redshanks (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Quinta de Marim, Ria Formosa, Olhao, Algarve, Portugal, November 2021]

Food, Diet

Grey Plovers feed on small molluscs, polychaete worms, crustaceans and insects.

Lateral view of a Grey Plover in non-breeding plumage with a worm at full stretch (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Alcochete, Setubal, Portugal, January 2020]

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

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