Snowy Plover

The Snowy Plover is a sparrow-sized shorebird with a small, short, black bill, rather long gray legs, and in spring and summer a distinct black bar on its tall forehead. These are likely important during courtship and nesting. The black markings on its head and face may also aid in aiming its bill when seizing prey and in dealing with this plover’s sunny open habitat. The markings also help in protecting it from predators by breaking up its outline. In winter the black markings are lost. A Snowy Plover blends in well in its sandy habitat that is punctuated here and there with wind and wave strewn bits of wood, shells, and other debris.