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9

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) Alternate name(s): "Black-bellied Plover" Size: 28-30 cm; wing span 71-83 cm Weight: 190-280 g (up to 345 g prior to migration)

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

Physical description Click here for a physical description Grey Plovers are relatively small waders. Their plumage is highly cryptic. When seen in Arabia, they are usually, but not always, in eclipse plumage. During the non-breeding season the sides of the head are off-white, with wide greyish-brown eye stripes. The throat is off-white, while the sides and nape of the neck and the chest are off-white with grey-brown streaks. The belly, vent and undertail coverts are white. During the breeding season their front (face below the eyes, front and sides of the neck, chest, belly and vent) is all-black, with white lining from the forehead via the eyebrow along the sides to the front of the wings. The back (cap, nape of the neck, mantle upperwings and uppertail) remains mottled grey and black. The bill is dull black; the legs and feet are dark-grey. The correct identification of waders ("shorebirds"), e.g. of the Calidris, Tringa, Actitis and related families or of the Charadrius, Pluvialis and related genera in the field can be quite tricky. We have therefore made an attempt to give some advice HERE.

Taxonomy, classification See Grey Plover at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Grey Plover is available HERE . Grey Plovers are a global, highly migratory species which, when not breeding, can be found along the coastlines of all continents, except Antarctica. They are also found inland in central North America and large parts of Eurasia. Their breeding grounds are located in the Arctic regions of the northern continents. In Arabia Grey Plovers are found mostly as migrants between Africa and Asia. Some birds may spend the winter, some non-breeders also the summer, around saltwater along the coastal fringe, including the coastline of Oman. Grey Plovers are mostly found around saltwater and brackish water, e.g. along beaches and in mangrove marshes, in particular mudflats. They are only rarely found around fresh water.

Sightings Click here for sighting information We have not seen Grey Plovers in Oman yet, but the species has been spotted in Australia.

Photos

No photos available yet from Oman, but the species has been photographed in Australia.

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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