Black-bellied Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Also known as:Grey Plover

Explore this bird

Identification

Field notes

25-36 cm (10-14") Common and widespread. Tundra; in winter on sandy beaches, mudflats, plowed fields.

Robin-sized plover.

Summer: distinctive black-and-white breeding plumage; black face, throat and breast, white undertail coverts, white stripe extends across forehead down sides of breast.

Winter: grayish overall but darker above with a faint eyebrow.

In flight: white rump and tail and black armpits.

Song: clear whistled "whee-ur-eee".

Details in the field

Photo gallery

8 photos

Credit: Mark Peck

Credit: Natsuko

Credit: Andrew Reding

Credit: Jason Crotty

Credit: Jason Crotty

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Mark Peck

Credit: Mark Peck

Watch and learn

Videos

4 videos

Black-bellied Plover (Panasonic TM90)

Credit: MackM48

Black-bellied Plover

Credit: Stoil Ivanov

Black-bellied Plover

Credit: Mark Vance

Black-bellied Plover (GH2 + 100-300mm)

Credit: MackM48

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 2 rules

These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.

Black-bellied Plover

2 rules

Rule 1 11 criteria confidence 5

What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Checkered black and white · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sandpiper-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Spring · Summer · Fall

result:577-black-bellied-plover:1:1 Source: 577 Black-bellied Plover, row 1

Rule 2 10 criteria confidence 5

What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?: Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Checkered black and white · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BILL ?: Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
What SHAPE was the BILL ?: Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
What LENGTH was the BILL ?: Short · Medium · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sandpiper-like
WHEN was the bird seen ?: Winter

result:577-black-bellied-plover:2:1 Source: 577 Black-bellied Plover, row 2