Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...

Plovers

The Charadriidae family, consisting of about 64 to 68 species, includes plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. These birds were first categorized by William Elford Leach in 1820 and are generally small to medium-sized with compact bodies, short necks, and long, pointed wings, though lapwings can have rounder wings. Their bills and toes are typically short, while the tail length can vary. They exhibit little sexual dimorphism, meaning males and females look similar. Size varies as seen between the tiny collared plover and the larger masked lapwing. Found globally in open areas near water, their habitats can range from deserts to grasslands. Charadriidae visually hunt for invertebrates and plant material, foraging with a distinctive run-and-pause technique. Most species are socially monogamous, though mating practices can vary from polygyny to sequential polyandry. Breeding involves highly visible territorial displays and the laying of two to four eggs in a ground scrape, which are incubated for 21–30 days. The distribution of incubation duties between the parents can vary widely. Charadriidae are protective of their eggs and young, using alarm calls, distraction displays, and even direct attacks to deter predators. Chicks are born precocial and are not fed by their parents.

Regions

A photo of a American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

American Golden Plover

Pluvialis dominica
A photo of a Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus) , male

Caspian Plover

Charadrius asiaticus
A photo of a Dotterel (Charadrius morinellus) , male

Dotterel

Charadrius morinellus
A photo of a Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) , male

Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria
A photo of a Greater Sand Plover (Charadrius leschenaultii) , male

Greater Sand Plover

Charadrius leschenaultii
A photo of a Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola
A photo of a Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) , male

Kentish Plover

Charadrius alexandrinus
A photo of a Kittlitz's Plover (Charadrius pecuarius)

Kittlitz's Plover

Charadrius pecuarius
A photo of a Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Lapwing

Vanellus vanellus
A photo of a Lesser Sand Plover (Charadrius mongolus) , male

Lesser Sand Plover

Charadrius mongolus
A photo of a Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)

Little Ringed Plover

Charadrius dubius
A photo of a Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva
A photo of a Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)

Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Sociable Plover

Vanellus gregarius
A photo of a Spur-winged Lapwing (Vanellus spinosus)

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus
A photo of a Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris)

Three-banded Plover

Charadrius tricollaris
A photo of a White-tailed Plover (Vanellus leucurus)

White-tailed Plover

Vanellus leucurus
App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.
1
Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Species Categories

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
JCBirding
Just what birding needs
We need more fun in birding, for years it has had a reputation for being up tight and stuffy and only perused by retirees and anoraks. Birda helps change that perception and firmly brings birding into the 21st century! Fun, interactive while still contributing to science and conservation. If you aren’t on it, why not??
Erna M
I really like Birda
I really like Birda. I also use other birding apps and have Birda with E-bird going at the same time.
Dan R
Great app for bird fanatics
Great app for bird fanatics - very user friendly and a perfect place to share sightings.
Birdafan
Ideal Birdwatch Companion
Simply adds to the enjoyment of my birdwatching and helps me record what I’ve seen.
Leonie
We've been waiting for an App like this
Excellent! We've been waiting for an app like this! Thank you! It would be nice if you could assign additional birds to sessions later!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
SuperOliviaGirl
Really great app
It’s easy to use and it’s fun to log the birds you notice on a walk or just in your garden. There’s a option to record the birds you see in a session which is really nice. Good excuse to stop for a while and just watch birds. I am also enjoying the information part where you can find out fact about birds from all over the world.
SW H
Wonderful App
Birda is my go to app for keeping records of my bird sightings and sessions. It has fantastic information which is great at aiding identification. With all the updates that are coming in the new year, this app is something special.
Mike T
Sense of Community
A great app, which is continually being improved. What really comes through is the passion of those behind the app. The sense of community is brilliant, so much help and support provided to new and/or in experienced birders.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.