Piping Plover

Photo from the Southwestern Louisiana Birding page.

Last updated 3/14/96

Piping plover are listed as endangered. They are year round residents of the UTC, but become more numerous in the winter when northern birds winter on the Texas beaches.

The Piping Plover is similar to the Snowy Plover and the Semipalmated Plover. The Snowy Plover lacks the white rump patch of the Piping Plover and in breeding season has dark legs and bill compared to the Piping Plovers yellow bill tipped with black and yellow legs.

The Sempalmated Plover is darker above and lacks the white rump patch. The breast ring is complete in all plumages, most Piping Plover do not have a complete ring on the UTC. The dark forehead patch meets the eye in the Semipalmated Plover.

Look for Piping Plovers at Bolivar Flats Bird Sanctuary, Rollover Pass, and Galveston Island State Park

For really great collection of information about Piping Plovers in Texas see Lee Elliot's Wintering Piping Plovers and other things webpage.

A winter range map is available from the Christmas Bird Count

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