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Bird Identification

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Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus L 7 ¼" (18cm)

Illustration by Julie Zickefoose.

play song/call of the semipalmated plover

The semi-palmated plover is one of the few species of small plovers in North America that show a single breast band. The semipalmated plover is dark above, with bright orange legs. There is often at least some orange at the bill base, and extensive orange during the breeding season. The bill on the semipalmated starts with a medium-thick base and tapers fairly evenly along its length before coming to a fine point.

The semipalmated plover is common on beaches, lakeshores, and tidal flats and is seen throughout North America during migration.

Its distinctive call is a husky whistled chu-weet or kweet, and the flight song is repeated whistled too-ee, too-ee.

Bird song courtesy of Lang Elliott, NatureSound Studio.

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