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Latin Name: Pluvialis squatarola
Species: Birds
Conservation Status: S3 - Vulnerable
The Black-bellied Plover is a medium-sized shorebird with a short, sturdy black bill and relatively long legs. During breeding season, it is easily recognized by its striking black belly and a mottled black-and-white back. In nonbreeding plumage, its back is brown and white while the belly turns pure white. Regardless of season, this species can be identified in flight by its distinct black “armpits” (underwing markings) and bright white tail, which set it apart from other plovers.
Range & Habitat
This species has an extensive range, occurring along coastal areas throughout North and South America—from Alaska and northern Canada (Nunavut) in the north to Argentina and Chile in the south. Its breeding grounds are primarily in the Arctic tundra of coastal Alaska and northern Canada, with some populations extending into Eurasia. While nesting, Black-bellied Plovers prefer open tundra lowlands and heathlands. Outside the breeding season, they forage along sandy beaches, mudflats, and salt marshes.
Diet
Their diet consists mainly of aquatic invertebrates and insects. They frequently feed on small crustaceans, bivalve mollusks, periwinkle snails, polychaete worms, and other small marine organisms they find while probing sand and mudflats.
Life History
Black-bellied Plovers are long-lived birds, with the oldest recorded individual reaching at least 12 years and 8 months. Males perform an elaborate butterfly-like courtship display, involving exaggerated wingbeats and slow flight, often followed by ground displays where they fan their tail and raise their bill to attract females. The male chooses a nesting site and digs a shallow depression using his beak, legs, and breast, while the female lines it with lichen, moss, and other soft materials. Clutches typically contain three to four eggs, which hatch after 23–27 days. Chicks are precocial, able to walk shortly after hatching and begin feeding themselves within a day.
Significance
As a long-distance migrant, the Black-bellied Plover is a notable visitor to the Port Royal Sound area, where birdwatchers are fortunate to observe it during migration. These plovers also play an important role in shorebird ecology as sentinels—they are quick to call out warnings when predators approach, alerting other shorebirds to danger. Historically, this behavior helped them avoid hunters, making them less likely to be captured than other species.
Threats & How You Can Help
Major threats include human disturbance during critical resting and foraging times, which can deplete their energy reserves needed for migration. Sea level rise and climate change also pose risks by altering coastal habitats. To help protect Black-bellied Plovers and other migratory shorebirds, avoid chasing or flushing birds, keep pets leashed on beaches, and support conservation efforts that preserve coastal habitats.