# Semipalmated Plover (*Charadrius semipalmatus*) The Semipalmated Plover is a small, cute bird that loves to run along sandy beaches. With its short legs and round body, it looks for tiny bugs and little crabs to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Semipalmated Plover](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Semipalmated_plover_in_Quogue_%2826942%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Semipalmated_plover_in_Quogue_%2826942%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Semipalmated Plover is a small shorebird with a short bill and distinctive large dark eyes. It has a white belly and throat, a brown back, and a prominent black band across its white breast, contrasting with its bright orange legs. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Charadriidae - **Genus:** Charadrius ## Interesting facts - Plover chicks leave the nest and find their own food just hours after hatching! - Semipalmated Plovers often raise their young in cold, open tundra, facing harsh weather! - They use a special 'stop-and-go' dance to trick hidden prey into moving! - This bird can fly thousands of miles from the Arctic all the way to South America! ## Special abilities - **Quick-Stop Hunter:** Semipalmated Plovers can quickly stop and scan for prey because of their unique stop-and-run foraging method. - **Web-footed Runner:** Semipalmated Plovers have partially webbed feet that help them run swiftly over wet sand and mud without sinking. - **Keen-eyed Forager:** Semipalmated Plovers can spot tiny insects and worms because of their large eyes that provide excellent vision for hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 14-20 cm - **Wingspan:** 35-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.03-0.07 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 60 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-4 - **Incubation:** 22-25 days - **Migration Distance:** 8000 km ## Diet & Feeding They eat tiny invertebrates, like insects and worms, they find hidden in the sand and mud. - **Primary Foods:** marine worms, small crustaceans, insect larvae, small mollusks - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Predator during migration and on breeding grounds. - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Preys on eggs, chicks, and adult birds on the tundra. - **Hunts:** Lugworm (*Arenicola marina*) — Digs for these marine worms in sandy substrates. - **Hunts:** California Ghost Shrimp (*Callianassa californiensis*) — Forages for these tiny crustaceans in mudflats. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Webbed Feet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/webbed-feet): Characterized by having toes connected by a membrane, typically aiding in swimming. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Semipalmated Plover? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Semipalmated Plover? 14-20 cm ### What is Semipalmated Plover's wingspan? 35-45 cm ### How much does Semipalmated Plover weigh? 0.03-0.07 kg ### How long does Semipalmated Plover live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Semipalmated Plover move? 60 km/h ### What does Semipalmated Plover eat? They eat tiny invertebrates, like insects and worms, they find hidden in the sand and mud. ### Where is Semipalmated Plover usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Eden Landing Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/eden-landing-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Isaac Franklin Plantation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/isaac-franklin-plantation) — Tennessee, US · Historic Site - [Pointe Mouillee State Game Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/pointe-mouillee-state-game-area) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Bellport Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bellport-village-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Cape Arundel Summer Colony Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cape-arundel-summer-colony-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Fort De Soto Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-de-soto-park) — US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Semipalmated Plover](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/semipalmated-plover) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Semipalmated Plover: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/semipalmated-plover)