Adult Piping Plover’s bill is orange with a black tip; see Fig. 1, Fig. 15, Fig. 18.

Juvenile birds, up to first spring after hatching, have an all-black bill; see Fig. 11, Fig. 12. Beginning in late winter, black-billed young display some orange at the base of the bill; see Fig. 13.

At all seasons, Piping Plover has bright orange or yellow-orange legs; see Fig. 1, Fig. 12, Fig. 15, Fig. 18.

Adult Piping Plover acquires winter (basic) plumage gradually starting in July. The black collar of summer (alternate) plumage is replaced by a grayish-brown partial collar (broken in front). The black forehead line is much reduced or missing. The bill may be mostly dark but shows an orange base; see Fig. 1.

In spring, alternate pale gray-brown feathers similar to winter (basic) mantle feathers begin to replace the winter feathers. The dark brown collar-band is replaced with black feathers. A black line across the forehead connects the eyes; see Fig. 2.

Spring (alternate) and summer (alternate) are the same plumage; however, as seasons advance, feather margins become worn, and the plumage looks slightly different.

Summer adult (alternate) plumage is usually very frayed and worn; see Fig. 3. Note the orbital ring (ring of skin around eye), which is orange at all seasons.

Piping Plover males in the midwestern subspecies often have a black moustache during nesting season; see Fig. 4. Note darker lores (area between bill and eyes) and face on individuals of that subspecies. The midwestern subspecies also often has a thicker black collar than the eastern subspecies.

Piping Plover male in spring (alternate) plumage often has a complete collar; female’s collar is often incomplete; see Fig. 6.

Wings are pale gray brown on top with a long, broad white stripe; see Fig. 14.

The tail is white at the base. All tail feathers except the two outers have black (adult) or grayish (juvenile) tips; see Fig. 7, Fig. 14.

Undersides are pure white except for the dark collar-band; see Fig. 1.

Downy chick is fluffy, sandy gray with a stubby black bill. The upperparts are marked with cryptic brown stripes; see Fig. 8.

Chicks are fully mobile shortly after hatching; see Fig. 9.

Piping Plover adults brood and protect the young initially; see Fig. 10. Chicks forage for food with no help from the parents. Female adult may desert the brood within one to two weeks after hatching. Male adult’s care for the chicks usually ends after three weeks.

Juvenile plumage is pale sandy brown throughout the upperparts. In place of the dark collar, there is a pale sandy half-collar broken in the front; see Fig. 11, Fig. 12.

Fresh juvenile plumage, as with many shorebirds, shows a scalloped pattern to the upperparts due to pale narrow even margins to all the feathers; see Fig. 11. With age, the pale edges wear off and the feather margins become frayed; see Fig. 12.

Juvenile plumage begins to be replaced by spring (alternate) plumage during the first spring after hatching. The juvenile retains its all-black bill until the first spring molt; see Fig. 13.

Piping Plovers are early spring migrants, often arriving at mid-Atlantic, New England and southern Canadian coastal nesting sites in mid to late March.

Piping Plover’s nesting habitat is open, sparsely vegetated beaches with sand, gravel or cobbles along the east coast of its North American range. They frequently nest close to sand dunes.

In the Midwest, upper prairies and near the Great Lakes, Piping Plover nests may be in or near alkali lakes, reservoirs, river sand bars or gravel pits.

Piping Plovers are notoriously pugnacious toward rivals on breeding grounds; see Fig. 5. Also, see the YouTube video.

If approached by a perceived predator while nesting, adult Piping Plover protects its nest or newly hatched chicks by performing the broken-wing distraction display. This consists of the bird limping around sideways and dragging one wing to lure the predator away; see Fig. 7.

In New England, Piping Plover fall migration starts in early July for birds with successful first nests. In case of nest failure (somewhat frequent along the Atlantic coast due to coastal storms and proximity of nests to the open ocean), some birds may leave even earlier (June) but others stay to attempt a second nesting. As a result, there may be chicks on local beaches well into August, with some parents still around until September.

Female adults leave the nesting grounds first, followed by males and then juveniles.

During migration, East Coast birds use outer beaches and sandbars along the coast to roost and feed. Inland birds stop at lakes, rivers and marshes enroute to their winter grounds.

Piping Plover wintering habitat consists of barrier beaches and spoils islands along Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico shores as far south as the Caribbean islands and Central America.

Coastal Piping Plovers feed primarily on marine worms, crustaceans, mollusks and other small marine animals; some arthropods, including beetles, are also taken. Inland plovers feed primarily on insects and insect larvae.

Piping Plovers forage by night as well as by day.

Piping Plover (PIPL) is slightly larger than Snowy Plover (SNPL); for comparison, see Fig. 15.

Note the following:

• At all seasons, Piping Plover has orange or yellow-orange legs. Snowy Plover’s legs are gray though they may have a hint of pink.
• At all seasons, Piping Plover’s bill is thick and short, often with some orange at the base. Snowy Plover’s bill is thinner, longer and always black.
• In spring and summer (alternate) plumage, the black collar-band on Snowy Plover is not complete; it is often, but not always, complete on Piping Plover.
• Snowy Plover’s cheeks are darker than Piping Plover’s. In spring and summer (alternate) plumage, Snowy Plover has a black mark on the cheek behind the eye.
• Piping Plover has shorter legs than Snowy Plover. Snowy Plover’s body is chunky with a short tail.
• In flight, the white wing-stripe on Snowy Plover is narrow compared to the wider white wing-stripe on Piping Plover. Underwings of Snowy Plover are quite dark toward the tip, whereas Piping Plover’s underwings are mostly pale.
• Piping Plover’s tail is white at the base and dark at the tip. Snowy Plover’s tail is dark at the center and pale on the edges.

Piping Plover (PIPL) is similar in size and shape to Semipalmated Plover (SEPL). Piping Plover is paler and sandier in color; see Fig. 16, Fig. 17.

Note the following:

• Leg color of Piping Plover is yellow-orange. Leg color of Semipalmated Plover is variable, but usually darker brown or reddish brown.
• The black collar on spring and summer (alternate) plumaged Piping Plover is frequently incomplete, especially in the coastal subspecies. In alternate plumage, Semipalmated Plover nearly always has a complete black collar.
• Piping Plover’s tail is white at the base and dark at the tip. Semipalmated Plover’s tail is dark in the center with very pale narrow edges.
• Semipalmated Plover is a long-distance migrant, breeding in the Arctic or Subarctic and wintering in Central or South America. Piping Plover also migrates, but relatively short distances. The northern limit of its breeding range is mid-latitude North America, and its southern limit is northern Central America.

Piping Plover (PIPL) is considerably smaller and paler than Wilson’s Plover (WIPL); see Fig. 18.

Note the following:

• Wilson’s Plover is a resident of southeastern United States shores, though its breeding population has been spreading to the mid-Atlantic shore in recent years. Piping Plover winters along similar shores, but in summer nests considerably farther north than Wilson’s.
• Piping Plover’s bill is short, thick and often orange at the base. Wilson’s Plover’s bill is thick, long and all black.
• Piping Plover’s legs are yellow orange. Wilson’s Plover’s legs are a dusky pink.