Bird Guide

Snowy Plover vs White-fronted Plover

Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus)

Snowy Plover

Anarhynchus nivosus

Coastal

The snowy plover is a plump shorebird with a large head, a short and slender bill, and short neck and tail. It is a small plover, with adults ranging from 15 to 17 cm (5.9 to 6.7 in) in length, from 34 to 43.2 cm (13.4 to 17.0 in) in wingspan, and from 40 to 43 g (1.4 to 1.5 oz) in weight. Its body is typically held horizontally. Compared to other plovers, its legs are relatively long and its wings short. The bill is black, the iris dark brown, and the legs gray to black. Voice: The typical call is a repeated "tu-wheet" given in a wide range of contexts. In males, these include advertisement while standing in territories and courtship. In both sexes, the call may be given in situations of threat, aggression, distress, and alarm. This call differs between sexes, being shorter, quieter, and hoarser in the female.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Mike Baird, bairdphotos.com · CC BY 2.0
White-fronted Plover (Anarhynchus marginatus)

White-fronted Plover

Anarhynchus marginatus

Small48 gCoastal

The average white-fronted plover weighs approximately 45-50 g, and the two sexes differ slightly in plumage coloration. Adult male plovers show a white forecrown and supercilium, with a dark band crossing the mid crown, with the rest of the crown a sandy grey colour. The face is mainly white, with a blackish brown stripe running from behind the eye to the ear coverts. The mantle, back, and rump is light greyish brown, with pale brown to grey fringing feathers. The upper covert and central feathers of the tail are black, and the lateral feathers are white. Voice: The voice of a white-fronted plover is often a gentle piping wit, woo-et, twirit, and tirit-tirit, as well as pi-peep. When a plover is defending a territory, a harsh chiza-chiza can be heard, followed by a purrr or squeak. When the incomplete egg set is visited, a croo sound is called, and during incubation a short clirrup sound or clup is made when alarmed.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Di Turner · CC0

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Snowy Plover and White-fronted Plover.