Need Help ID'ing Plover - Florida (1 Viewer)

[adubin]

I need help identifying this Plover. It looks like a Pacific Golden-Plover to me but I found it in Merritt Island Wildlife, Florida today. Can somebody help validate it or tell what type it is? Thanks, ADubin

 

[Matt_RTH]

Surprised not to see any response yet but first thing I thought was Black Bellied Plover or American Golden Plover. Both seem to be in range other than the latter as a migrating species in that area may be late to the party.

 

[colonelboris]

I thought winter adult Black-bellied Plover (or Grey Plover for us over this side of the pond) when I first saw it, but I realy couldn't be sure and didn't want to influence anyone's answers...

 

[adubin]

Thank you Matt and Colonel Boris for the responses. I'm going with American Golden-Plover because it looks like it has a darker crown. Thanks again for you inputs, ADubin

 

[p wolf]

Thank you Matt and Colonel Boris for the responses. I'm going with American Golden-Plover because it looks like it has a darker crown. Thanks again for you inputs, ADubin

I don't think that's the right road to take aDubin, Black-bellied Plover has a darker crown as well. Among other things American Golden Plovers have really long wings and in your picture they don't strike me as very long.

regards, pim wolf

 

[The Falcon]

It is a Black-bellied Plover. Some Black-bellied Plovers can be/look rather golden and show a more distinct dark cap.

 

[chris butterworth]

It is a Black-bellied Plover. Some Black-bellied Plovers can be/look rather golden and show a more distinct dark cap.

Have to agree. I've seen lots of Grey ( Black-bellied) Plover in the roost on the shore here at West Kirby, Wirral ( UK) and a surprising number have looked quite "golden", have dark caps and seem particularly slight in build. :eek!:Any other photos, particularly showing the primary projection?
Chris

 

[rawsbb]

Two more details point to Black-bellied (or Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola): on the leg lifted out of the water you can see a tiny hind-toe, called a hallux, which only Black-bellied Plovers have. The structure of the bill is more substantial than in American Golden Plovers.

Sam Burckhardt

 

[adubin]

Another Photo of The Plover

I have attached another photo of the Plover. I hope this helps to better ID this bird. ADubin

 

[Jim M.]

Black-bellied Plover would be much more likely than American Golden-Plover in that area, and far far more likely than Pacific Golden-Plover. I do not see any reason why this bird cannot be a Black-bellied Plover. As others have said, Black-bellied Plovers can look quite golden, and subtle plumage differences are really not reliable in my experience.

Two more details point to Black-bellied (or Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola): on the leg lifted out of the water you can see a tiny hind-toe, called a hallux, which only Black-bellied Plovers have.

Sam Burckhardt

Interesting point Sam. I had seen that referenced with respect to Sanderlings before, but this is a new one on me. Just curious -- do you have a specific reference for that claim regarding the hind toe.

 

[rockfowl]

Two more details point to Black-bellied (or Grey) Plover (Pluvialis squatarola): on the leg lifted out of the water you can see a tiny hind-toe, called a hallux, which only Black-bellied Plovers have. The structure of the bill is more substantial than in American Golden Plovers.

Sam Burckhardt

Agreed, a nice juv/1st winter Black-bellied (Grey) Plover

With regards the hallux

Pacific - http://orientalbirdimages.org/searc...esult&Bird_ID=1027&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1
European - http://orientalbirdimages.org/searc...esult&Bird_ID=1029&Bird_Family_ID=&pagesize=1
American - http://www.roysephotos.com/AmericanGoldenPlover.html

Grey - http://orientalbirdimages.org/birdi...es&Bird_ID=1032&Bird_Family_ID=109&pagesize=1

 

[fugl]

In support of what has been said about the diagnostic value of the hallux, all the illustrations of Black-bellied Plover in the Handbook of the Birds of the Western Palearctic (Vol. 3, plts 18-19) depict this feature clearly (even--barely--that of the downy young!) while the illustrations of Pluvialis dominica dominica & P. apricaria on the same plates are equally clear in depicting its absence.

It's always nice to learn something new.

 

[rawsbb]

A very experienced birder pointed the hallux out to me. You will see it in Sibley's drawing of a Black-bellied Plover, however, there is no specific mention of it. Since it is a rather small feature, it is not always visible in the field.

Sam Burckhardt

 

[Howard King]

In support of what has been said about the diagnostic value of the hallux, all the illustrations of Black-bellied Plover in the Handbook of the Birds of the Western Palearctic (Vol. 3, plts 18-19) depict this feature clearly (even--barely--that of the downy young!) while the illustrations of Pluvialis dominica dominica & P. apricaria on the same plates are equally clear in depicting its absence.

It's always nice to learn something new.

I agree I didn't know this either shall look more closely now I do

 

[shishmarefbirder]

I don't see a lot of Black-bellied here, but what was pointed out to me is the thickness of the bill, which this one seems to have a thicker bill than the Americans we get and the eye stands out more with black-bellied as well. Those were comments from Paul Lehman while helping me distinguish.