Shorebird migration — plovers

George Walter

Jill Severn | For The JOLT News

Plovers are one of the types of shorebirds found in Thurston County, especially during the fall migration season, which is just now underway.

There are some 69 species in the plover subfamily, and they are found everwhere except Antarctica. Compared to other shorebirds, they have relatively short bills and typically hunt by sight, feeding on insects, worms and other invertebrates. (The longer billed shorebirds usually probe the sand or mud, hunting by feel rather that sight). 

The smallest plover found locally is the semipalmated plover. It’s smaller than a robin and round, with a very stubby bill. It looks pretty much the same year-round. You can readily identify it by its gray-brown back, white belly, black cap and a single black chest stripe. It is a regular, but not very common visitor to our county. 

A semipalmated plover.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

 Tidal mudflats are these plovers’ hunting territory, and from now through winter there will be small numbers of them scattered in these habitats. They are much more likely to be seen at mid tide to high tide when reduced mudflats bring them closer to shore. 

Another uncommon plover visitor is the black-bellied plover. It’s a chunky bird, larger than a robin, with a thick bill and relatively long wings. Most of the birds we find here will be in non-breeding plumage, with a speckly brown back and contrasting light belly. The one certain identifying feature, seen when a bird lifts its wings in flight, is black “armpits.” 

A black-bellied plover.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

These birds feed above the tide line and like sandy beaches and mudflats, but sometimes feed in farm fields at high tide. On the coast they often occur in larger flocks, but in our area we usually find only small scattered numbers. They occasionally spend the entire winter here, but usually migrate to the coast or further south.   

Two very similar species, the Pacific golden-plover and the American golden-plover, are very rarely found in Thurston County during fall migration. They are similar in size to the black-bellied, but they have speckled golden backs and lack the black “armpits.” The two golden plover species are nearly impossible to tell apart but are usually found in vastly different areas. 

An American golden plover.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

 The Pacific species, which nests in the Eurasian arctic, generally migrates to the southern Pacific coast — it is the plover commonly seen in Hawaii in the winter. The American species nests in the North American arctic and generally migrates through mid-continent, eventually reaching its wintering grounds in southeastern South America.

Here in Washington, during migration every year, someone finds a few members of each species. Serious birders challenge themselves to distinguish which species they have found, but most of us are pleased to simply take note of the golden speckles. 

The black-bellied and both golden plovers are just as likely to be found on freshwater beaches and grassy fields as on saltwater shorelines. They have beautiful breeding plumage, but since we seldom see them in their breeding season, you might have to depend you your bird book illustrations. To help, here is a breeding plumage photo from Liam taken in the Arctic. 

A Pacific golden plover.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

All the above plovers are uncommon to rare, so you might think it is near-impossible for you to see a plover. However, that’s not the case at all. In fact, just last month I spotted a plover in the parking lot behind the Martin Way Diner. Yes, throughout our county we have a very common residential plover – the killdeer.  

Here is an easily identified bird that almost everyone has encountered at least once. It is robin-sized with a brown back, white chest with two bold black stripes. And, when alarmed, it will loudly call its name, “killdeer, killdeer.” (At least that’s what the folks who came up with its common name thought it sounded like).  

Killdeers nest in a wide variety of open areas, from fields and beaches to urban backyards and driveways — they like open pastures and dry areas. Like all the shorebirds, killdeer young are precocial. They are born with a downy coat similar to the adults and immediately begin to feed themselves.

However, in contrast to some shorebirds, adult killdeer don’t abandon their young. Rather, they defend their eggs and young by employing a fake broken wing display, luring away a potential predator (or a curious human).  

A killdeer in a defensive posture.

Liam Hutcheson | For The JOLT News

If you are the recipient of such a display, please play your part and don’t be too wise. Just follow the adult as it leads you away, and then be amazed as this apparently crippled bird suddenly flies off. It’s quite an experience, not to be missed should the opportunity arise. 

George Walter is environmental program manager at the Nisqually Indian Tribe’s natural resources department: he also has a 45+ year interest in bird watching. He may be reached at george@theJOLTnews.com. 

Photos for this column are provided by Liam Hutcheson, an 18-year-old Olympia area birder and avid photographer.