The grey plover

On The Wing: Meet the Grey Plover

The grey plover
A Grey plover in flight

You’ve probably seen the Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) and not paid it any attention. Singly or in little flocks, these little birds stroll on sandy beaches looking for tiny nibbles in the sand. Every winter, they arrive in droves to the coast of Kerala.

This one is attired in a rather dowdy non-breeding plumage; however, later in April as summer beckons, the birds get decked up in a more ‘formal’ black and white coat.  Those large round pebble like eyes , shorter legs, white rump in flight, and the lack of the golden spanglings help differentiate them from the Pacific Golden Plover, another winter visitor that is commonly seen in these parts.

Sandy
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