Mountain Plover

Charadrius montanus

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Identification

23 cm (9") Common. Great Plains. Dry upland prairies, plains, semideserts.

Only brown backed plover with unbanded white underparts.

Breeding: a white forehead and line over eye contrasts with a dark crown.

Winter: looks like Golden Plover but has whiter underwings.

Large flocks may form.

Song: low whistle.

Details in the field

4 photos

Credit: Bill Bouton

Credit: Bill Bouton

Watch and learn

2 videos

Mountain Plover

Credit: MontanaFWP

Mountain Plover

Credit: Dalcio Dacol

Where it lives

Source legend · original intervals

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Unshaded in source · does not imply absence

Bird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant 1 rule

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

1 rule

Rule 1 12 criteria confidence 5

What color was the UNDERSURFACE of the wing as seen in flight ?: Light · Unknown
What colour was the BACK ?: Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the BELLY ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Unknown
What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ?: Uniform color · Unknown
What colour was the BREAST ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
What colour was the THROAT ?: White, or pale (grayish-white) · 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 · Long · Unknown
How BIG was the bird ?: Sparrow-sized · Robin-sized
What TYPE of bird was seen ?: Sandpiper-like
WHERE was the bird seen ?: Southwestern United States · Northwestern Canada or United States

result:573-mountain-plover:1:1 Source: 573 Mountain Plover, row 1