# Snowy Plover (*Anarhynchus nivosus*) The Snowy Plover is a small, cute bird that loves to live on sandy beaches. It has a soft, light-colored body and a tiny beak perfect for finding food in the sand. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Snowy Plover](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Charadrius_nivosus_%281%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charadrius_nivosus_%281%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Snowy Plover is a tiny shorebird with pale, sandy-brown upperparts and bright white underparts. It has a distinctive dark patch on its shoulder, a short dark bill, and dark legs. This light coloring helps it blend perfectly with sandy beaches and salt flats. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Charadriidae - **Genus:** Charadrius ## Interesting facts - Chicks hatch ready to run, leaving the nest within hours! - Dad plovers often finish raising chicks after mom flies off. - Their nests are just shallow scrapes in the sand, lined with shells! - These birds love to take dust baths to keep their feathers clean. ## Special abilities - **Sand Sentinel:** Snowy Plovers can disappear into plain sight, using their pale feathers to blend seamlessly with sandy beaches and salt flats. - **Feigned Foe Fighter:** Snowy Plovers will fake a broken wing to distract predators, leading them away from their precious eggs hidden in the sand. - **Nature's Thermostat:** Snowy Plovers can keep their eggs cool by wetting their belly feathers and sitting on them to protect from sun. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 15-17 cm - **Wingspan:** 38-43 cm - **Weight:** 0.035-0.055 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-3 - **Incubation:** 26-30 days - **Migration Distance:** 1000 km ## Diet & Feeding A tiny hunter, it pecks up small insects and marine worms from the sand. - **Primary Foods:** Beach hoppers, Marine worms, Fly larvae, Beetles, Tiny crabs - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — Eats plover eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [American Kestrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-kestrel) (*Falco sparverius*) — Hunts adult plovers and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [California Gull](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-gull) (*Larus californicus*) — Preys on plover eggs and young. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Protected](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/protected): Protected status signifies a species or area is safeguarded by legal measures and conservation efforts to prevent harm or loss. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Snowy 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 Snowy Plover? 15-17 cm ### What is Snowy Plover's wingspan? 38-43 cm ### How much does Snowy Plover weigh? 0.035-0.055 kg ### How long does Snowy Plover live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Snowy Plover move? 40 km/h ### What does Snowy Plover eat? A tiny hunter, it pecks up small insects and marine worms from the sand. ### Where is Snowy Plover usually found? Coastal areas ## Where to spot - [Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guadalupe-nipomo-dunes) — California, US · Natural Landmark - [Sunset State Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunset-state-beach) — California, US · State Park - [Doctor Julian G. Bruce Saint George Island State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/doctor-julian-g-bruce-saint-george-island-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Saint Joseph Peninsula State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/saint-joseph-peninsula-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see Snowy Plover](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/snowy-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: [Snowy Plover: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowy-plover)