12 replies to this topic

[Hopsing129]

Taken early May at Hackberry Flats WMA in southern OK. Already had Semipalmated and Snowy Plovers from this trip, just noticed this one. Yellow legs and yellow base of bill so not Snowy. Facial markings match Piping better than Semi, also bill seems too stubby for Semi.Thanks in advance.

[jetmedix]

I think you are correct with Piping.

[Grandpa577]

Brown is not the coloring of a Piping Plover whose upperparts are gray. This is a Semipalmated Plover. I don't often see the two species together. The Semipalmated prefers the mudflats and the Piping Plover, the surf. This winter we had a single Piping Plover and a Semipalmated Plover winter over which is not very common. This shot is from May 2011.


Piping_Plover_7368b by Grandpa577, on Flickr

[Hopsing129]

On the Cornell Lab All About Birds site the male piping is brown over white.

[Grandpa577]

On the Cornell Lab All About Birds site the male piping is brown over white.

The breeding male example? The head is gray. Granted there appears to be 'brown' in the upper parts but its not the solid brown that is on the cap and mantle of a Semipalmated Plover. O'Brien, Crossley and Karlson indicate that the interior subspecies of Piping Plovers are overall darker than the the Atlantic coast sub species 'with more contrasting gray cheeks.'

These are some examples of Piping Plovers. The last were shot in Texas.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

[Joejr14]

Agree with semipalmated plover for the reasons grandpa stated.

[TheBillyPilgrim]

Sorry, but I have to agree with Semipalmated. Agree with all the above reasons, plus the facial pattern fits a Semi, with the dark cheeks extending all the way past the eye to the bill. I think the angle of the shot is just making the face and bill look stubbier than they are.

[Hopsing129]

Okay, thanks for the info. I'll keep looking...there is always the next migration season.

[creeker]

This topic reminded me of this old thread. Too funny!

http://www.whatbird....__1#entry236599

[BarnSwallow]

I wasn't a member when that thread happened, but I was a lurker. I thought that was the funniest thing I'd ever seen! I passed it along to a few people, even non-birders - they thought it was hysterical!

[Carolina]

This topic reminded me of this old thread. Too funny!

http://www.whatbird....__1#entry236599

My first time seeing it. Totally LOL at the office then had to show everyone. Funny funny stuff.

[MarkBird]

Yes, thanks for bringing that thread up. I'm too new to have seen that one.

I do the "is it a Piping" routine with the Semis a few times a month. At least now I'll get to laugh while I'm disappointed that it's not Pimping nor Piping.

[JimBob]

This topic reminded me of this old thread. Too funny!

http://www.whatbird....__1#entry236599

When ever I see plover in the name of the post I think of that thread!!!