Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

Rare in NC and federally endangered, Piping Plovers breed and overwinter in a few locations along the coast.
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co., NC
3 January 2015
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co., NC
3 January 2015

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co., NC
10 Mar 2016
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Wrightsville Beach, New Hanover Co., NC
10 Mar 2016

Ten of the eleven Piping Plovers at this location today are in this photo. I was unable to find any banded individuals, indicating these are likely from the east coast breeding population.


Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC
23 Feb 2014

Note very pale above and orange legs identify this species federally endangered species of plover.

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Cape Hatteras, Dare Co., NC
23 Feb 2014

Single dark breast band may be incomplete or narrowly complete in front.


Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Tigertail Beach on Marco Island
Collier Co., FL
2 January 2004

Piping Plovers have stubby bills which may be mostly black in winter and mostly orange (black-tipped) in summer.

Digiscoped with a Nikon CoolPix 4500 and Kowa TSN-824


Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Tigertail Beach on Marco Island
Collier Co., FL
31 January 2007

Photographed with a Canon eos 20d with a 100mm macro lens


Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Tigertail Beach on Marco Island
Collier Co., FL
2 January 2006

Digiscoped with a Nikon CoolPix 4500 and Kowa TSN-824

Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Tigertail Beach on Marco Island
Collier Co., FL
2 January 2006

Digiscoped with a Nikon CoolPix 4500 and Kowa TSN-824


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Created on ... January 18, 2006 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com