Species Factsheet
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Threatened
and Endangered Species Factsheet |
 Photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
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Description: Piping plovers are small (6 - 6 ½ inches long), stocky shorebirds that have a sand-colored upper body, a white underside, and orange legs. During the breeding season, adults have a black forehead, a black breast band, and an orange bill. Habitat: Piping Plovers begin to arrive at their breeding grounds in late March and early April, after passing the winter months in southeastern North America and the Caribbean Islands. The preferred habitat is a flat, wide, open, sandy or somewhat cobbly beach. Nesting territories often include small creeks or wetlands. Feeding habits: Piping plovers eat insects, spiders and crustaceans. Current Iowa range: Pottawattamie and Woodbury counties. Do something WILD!: Anyone who visits a beach populated by these birds can help to preserve them by following the simple rules of "plover etiquette." Plover etiquette begins with leaving your pets, especially dogs at home. To plovers, dogs resemble their natural predators. The mere sight of your pet can frighten the birds off their nest for long periods of time, resulting in eggs baking in the sun, nest abandonment, or chick mortality.
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