Plovers

Charadriinae.

Bill short, straight, subcylindrical, obtusely pointed; upper mandible with its dorsal line straight for half its length, afterwards convex; nasal groove bare, extended along two-thirds of the length of the bill. Head of moderate size, rather compressed, rounded in front. Eyes large. Neck rather short; body ovate, rather full. Plumage soft, blended, somewhat compact above; wings long, pointed, with the first quill longest. Tail of moderate length, somewhat rounded, or with the middle feathers projecting, of twelve feathers. OEsophagus of moderate width; stomach roundish, compressed, very muscular, with the epithelium dense and rugous; intestine rather long, and of moderate width, with rather long coeca. A single pair of inferior laryngeal muscles. Nest on the ground, shallow; eggs generally four, large, pyriform, spotted. Young densely covered with down, and able to walk immediately after birth.

Genus I : Plover

Black-bellied Plover
Plate 334
Golden Plover
Plate 300
Kildeer Plover
Plate 225
Rocky Mountain Plover
Plate 350
Wilson's Plover
Plate 209
Ring Plover
Plate 330
Piping Plover
Plate 220

Genus II : Turnstone

Turn-stone
Plate 304

About This Guide

High-resolution images courtesy of the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove, Audubon, PA, and the Montgomery County, PA, Audubon Collection. Learn more about the John James Audubon Center