Species BirdsPiping Plover

Piping Plover

Charadrius melodus

RareBird
Illustration of Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

The Piping Plover is a small, sand-colored shorebird that nests on sandy Atlantic beaches, Great Lakes shores, and Great Plains river sandbars, and is listed as threatened or endangered across its range. Its melodious 'peep-lo' calls give it its name. Beach closures during nesting season are among the most important conservation tools for its recovery.

Habitat
Sandy coastal beaches, river sandbars, and lakeshores
Diet
Marine worms, tiny crustaceans, and insects
How common
Rare

Best time to see a Piping Plover

The best time to see a Piping Plover is March–July, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 11,918 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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Recent Piping Plover sightings near you

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