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Plovers
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Habitat: Along seacoasts, on isolated, sandy beaches
with little vegetation and access to mudflats for feeding.
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Weight: 1.5-2.25 ounces.
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Length: 6-7 inches.
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Wingspan: 14-15.25 inches.
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Life Expectancy: 8-14 years of age.
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Food: Marine worms, fly larvae, beetles, crustaceans,
mollusks, and other small marine animals and their eggs.
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Status: Federally and state threatened
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Plovers are small, plump-bodied shorebirds with relatively large
eyes, short thick bills, and stubby necks. The majority of these
birds either live or breed along coastal beaches, open prairie,
arctic tundra, and alkali wetlands. Plovers have exceptional camouflage
and are often heard before they are seen. All plovers use the 'broken
wing' or distraction display to lead intruders away from their eggs
or young. Members of this family that nest in North Dakota include
the killdeer and piping plover. The blackbellied plover, American
golden plover, and semipalmated plover may be observed during seasonal
migrations. The Drift Prairie and Missouri Coteau are the two best
regions to view plovers.
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| Bird rescue & bird adoption;
parrot refuge/rescue & placement for unwanted birds. |
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| Check out our list of local
birds broken down by your state and different types of
species. |
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| Migrating birds stay on track
because of chemical reactions in their bodies that are
influenced by the Earth's magnetic field... |
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Part
I
November
19, 2004