Species BirdsSnowy Plover

Snowy Plover

Charadrius nivosus

UncommonBird
Illustration of Snowy Plover (Charadrius nivosus)

The Snowy Plover is a tiny, pale plover of coastal beaches and alkali flats, so well camouflaged it is nearly invisible against white sand. It nests directly on the beach above the tide line, and its eggs and chicks are similarly camouflaged. Populations have declined severely due to human disturbance of nesting beaches and are listed as threatened on the Pacific Coast.

Habitat
Sandy ocean beaches, alkali flats, and salt pans
Diet
Tiny insects, beach invertebrates, and small crustaceans
How common
Uncommon

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