Semipalmated plover

The semipalmated plover is a compact little shorebird that moves in the classic plover way: it runs a few steps, stops, looks, and runs again. It has a single dark band across the chest, an orange bill with a dark tip, and a thin yellow ring around the eye.

The name comes from the small webs between its toes. It nests on the Arctic tundra, and it passes through Manitoba on migration in May and again from July to September, feeding on mudflats and the edges of lakes. It winters on coasts from the southern United States to South America, which makes its journey one of the longer ones among shorebirds.

The single dark neck ring and big dark eye give a semipalmated plover a tidy, wide-eyed look that I find charming.

To find out more about the semipalmated plover and the places it lives, visit All About Birds.

Field notes in photographs

Semipalmated plover Manitoba sightings

Where and when you can find the semipalmated plover in Manitoba depends on the season and the habitat. You can see more species in the Manitoba birds section.

Back to Manitoba bird photography, or see the portfolio.