Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
The Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is a common plovers and lapwing found in 193 countries, weighing about 250 g. The grey plover or black-bellied plover is a large plover breeding in Arctic regions.
About the Grey Plover
The grey plover or black-bellied plover is a large plover breeding in Arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The grey plover is 27–30 cm (11–12 in) long with a wingspan of 71–83 cm (28–33 in) and a weight of 190–280 g (6.7–9.9 oz) (up to 345 g (12.2 oz) in preparation for migration). In spring and summer (late April or May to August), adults are spotted black and white on the back and wings. The face and neck are black with a white border; they have a black breast and belly and a white rump. The tail is white with black barring. The bill and legs are black.
What the Grey Plover sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Sudan, Tajikistan, Malta, Vanuatu, Eswatini, Laos, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Fiji.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, July, August, September, October, November, December, with peak activity in September. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Grey Plover?
- The grey plover is 27–30 cm (11–12 in) long with a wingspan of 71–83 cm (28–33 in) and a weight of 190–280 g (6.7–9.9 oz) (up to 345 g (12.2 oz) in preparation for migration). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Grey Plover?
- The Grey Plover is a medium sized bird weighing about 250 g.
- Where can you see a Grey Plover?
- The Grey Plover occurs in 193 countries, including the United States, Canada, Sweden, the United Kingdom and France.
- What does a Grey Plover sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Grey Plover on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Grey Plover?
- The Grey Plover is most easily confused with the European Golden Plover, the Pacific Golden Plover and the American Golden Plover.
- Is the Grey Plover endangered?
- The Grey Plover is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Grey Plover for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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