Family: Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is a species of plover belonging to the Charadriidae family.
Habitats: The Grey Plover or Black-bellied Plover migrates to winter on all southern continents from its breeding grounds in the holarctic tundra. During September, the Australian contingent arrives mainly on the northwest coast and is probably derived from Asian stocks. Some of them fly across the continent to the south coast, but most seem to follow the coastline, mainly along the west coast and in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Austral autumn is the time when those who will breed move back to their breeding grounds in the Northern Hemisphere. Grey Plovers in Australia stay on tidal sands and mud flats along the coast and estuaries. At high tides, they also congregate alone or in small groups with other waders on higher, often shrubbed banks, flying swiftly to resting grounds with graceful wingbeats.
Diet: Their diet consists of crustaceans, marine worms, and other invertebrates. They usually hunt prey by stopping, running, and pecking. Plovers primarily feed during the day, but they also forage at night during low tide, perhaps taking advantage of nocturnal marine worms. Even on moonlit nights, hunting can be as active as during the day.
The Grey Plover or Black-bellied Plover migrates to winter on all southern continents from its breeding grounds in the holarctic tundra. Photo Credit – Agustín Povedano
Similar Species: Grey Plovers are similar to Lesser Golden Plovers, but are greyer in tone, bulkier, and have white wing stripes and rumps along with a black patch on the wing in flight.
Size: Grey Plover size is about 290 mm with a wingspan of 28–33 inches and a weight of 190–280 grams.
Identification: There is no difference between the sexes. A non-breeding bird’s upper parts are grey-brown with light grey flecking. The crown is darker; the eyebrow stripe is pale grey. Rump is white; tail is white barred with dark brown or black; broad white wing stripe above; underwing pale with conspicuous black axillaries. Gradually graying underparts and dark blotches on the breast. The eyes are dark brown in color. Black is the color of the bill. The feet are dark grey. In breeding plumage, the upper parts are dark brown or black, well covered with white mauling. Tail while barred with dark brown; rump white. Around the bend of the wing, there is a broad white stripe that runs from the forehead over the eye down the side of the neck. From face to belly, the underparts are black. Black is the color of the feet. A non-breeding immature is more ash-brown and spouted cream above than an adult.
Vocalizations: Grey Plover call is long-drawn, plaintive pee-oo-ee, peeee-ee in cantact; other similar notes on breeding grounds.
Nest & Breed: Nesting and breeding take place in the northern USSR, Alaska, and Canada, in June and July. Located on a tundra, the nest is formed by a shallow depression in the ground with a sparse lining of short pieces of plant wall.
Eggs: The Grey Plover lays four eggs; grey-brown to light brown, well-marked, particularly at the larger end, with blotches and spots of dark brown or black; pyriform, about 52 x 36 mm.
Distribution: Common breeding species in the Arctic areas of America and Eurasia.
Migration: Throughout the world, they migrate to coastal areas to spend the winter. However, they migrate to the coasts of Australia in the northern winter.
