In summer it has silver and black spotted upperparts, a black face, neck and belly and in winter, it loses the black feathers and takes on a browny-grey look. In both plumages, the rump is white and in flight in winter it shows distinctive black 'armpits'. Like most plovers it stands very upright and tends to run and then suddenly stop to feed. It is generally seen in small numbers, although flocks can form when there is a high tide.
Key ID Features
Winter adults have mottled grey back and head, pale underparts and a heavy, black bill.
In summer the under parts, breast and face are black and the back and head become strikingly patterned in silver-grey and black, with a bold white band from the chest to above the eye.
In flight white bars are visible on the upper wings along with a white rump and black wing pits
Overview
Scientific name: Pluvialis squatarola
Family: Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae)
Where to see them:
Found only along coasts, preferring large muddy and sandy estuaries. Largest numbers are found on the Wash, Ribble, Thames, Blackwater, Medway, Dee and Humber estuaries, and Chichester and Langstone Harbours.
Seen in UK:
A few birds stay through the summer and the first migrant adults arrive in the UK in July and the young in August and September. Peak numbers are seen between November and March and birds leave in April and May.
What they eat
Shellfish and worms.
Text (c) RSPB, used with permission
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Photographer: Tim Tapley
