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SEMIPALMATED PLOVER  Charadrius semipalmatus 16.5–17.5cm. Small

migrant plover of varied coastal habitats from beaches and tidal mudflats to

flooded fields, mangroves, salt ponds. Often in flocks, feeding in well-spaced

arrays but roosting more tightly, often with other shorebirds. Note orange legs,

wet-sand tone to upperparts, stubby, orange-based bill. Breeding plumage has

black mask and breast band. Nonbr. resembles juv. SOUNDS: Upslurred, slightly

plaintive ch’wieh and sharper ch’wiet! Nasal bickering chatters in feeding

interactions. STATUS: Fairly common to locally common Aug–May on both

coasts, especially Pacific, where small numbers oversummer; uncommon to

fairly common locally inland, where more widespread in migration, to 1500m. (Breeds N America,

winters to S America.)

WILSON’S PLOVER  Charadrius wilsonia 18–19cm. Small but big-billed plover

of coastal habitats, from sandy beaches to lagoon shores, salt ponds, mangrove

mudflats, rocky coasts; often breeds in areas with gravel. Mainly feeds by

running down small crabs. Often in groups. Note heavy black bill, pinkish legs.

Male has black head and breast markings, female dark brown. Pacific coast birds

average darker above; Caribbean coast birds often distinctly paler than

Semipalmated Plover. SOUNDS: Sharp high piik! and clipped pri-dik; dry, buzzy,

bickering chatters in interactions. STATUS: Uncommon to fairly common locally

on both coasts, breeding on Pacific coast mainly around Gulf of Nicoya; more

widespread in fall–winter. (Americas.)

COLLARED PLOVER  Charadrius collaris 14–15cm. Dainty plover of varied

coastal habitats from beaches and river mouths to lagoons, salt flats; also inland

on gravel and sand bars in rivers, lakeshores. Note neat, narrow black collar,

rusty cheeks, fine dark bill, pinkish legs; lacks whitish hindneck collar of other

small ringed plovers. Pairs or small groups often keep apart from flocks of other

small plovers. Juv. plumage held briefly; no distinct seasonal change in adult

appearance. SOUNDS: Clipped sharp pik, suggesting Wilson’s Plover; mellow

rolled krip that can run into chatters. STATUS: Uncommon and local on both

slopes, mainly in coastal lowlands but locally to 500m; rare and irregular visitor

to Central Valley. (Mexico to S America.)

SNOWY PLOVER  Charadrius nivosus 15–16cm. Small, pale migrant plover of sandy beaches, coastal

lagoons, salt ponds. Singles or a few birds, often associating with other small plovers. Feeds mainly by

chasing down sandflies. Note partial breast band, dull pinkish-gray legs, slender dark bill. Pacific coast

birds pale sandy brown above, Caribbean coast birds average paler, more silvery. Male has bolder black

head and breast markings than female. SOUNDS: Quiet rolled prrit in flight. STATUS: Rare and irregular

Sep–early Apr on n. Pacific coast, very rare elsewhere on both coasts. (Americas.)

KILLDEER  Charadrius vociferus 24–25.5cm. Relatively large, long-tailed, and

often noisy ringed plover, with distinctive double black breast band, bright

rusty rump and long, dark-tipped tail. Often away from water, in plowed fields,

grassland, other open habitats; rarely open beaches or tidal mudflats. Regularly

in flocks, separate from other ringed plovers. Slight age/sex/seasonal variation;

chick has single black breast band, soon attains adult-like plumage.

SOUNDS: Varied wailing and screaming cries, singly or in series; in display flight

a repeated, onomatopoeic kill-deéu.…STATUS: Uncommon nonbr. migrant on

both slopes, especially Pacific, mainly Sep–Mar, to 1500m; local breeding

resident, mainly in and around Central Valley. (Americas.)