BIRDS OF THE BEACH
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)
Small, sandy-colored bird Black neck ring and forehead markings Voice: A clear, forlorn “peep-lo”
This rather rare shorebird so perfectly matches the dry sand on which it hunts that it is often completely invisible until it moves. If the sparsely lined nest is discovered, the parents go into a “broken wing” act to draw attention to themselves and away from their eggs or young. The four light buff eggs marked with black are laid in May.
Five Common Migrants
Although rare, the Piping Plover has been described in detail because it does nest here. The following five birds are very common on the Neck during much of the summer but do not nest on New England beaches.
Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)
Resembles Piping Plover but is darker brown Black ring on neck Tail is dark, with white edges
Black-bellied Plover (Squatarola squatarola)
About Robin size Tail and rump are white Named for its spring color patterns
Greater Yellowlegs (Totanus melanoleucus)
A large Sandpiper with bright yellow legs Tail and rump are white In flight, body appears light, wings dark
Sanderling (Crocethia alba)
Legs and bill are black White stripe across wing Body is brown or gray color
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Ereunetes pusillus)
Very tiny sandpiper Stout bill Blackish legs