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Home | Conservation & Education | Education Program | Meet the Birds | Western Snowy Plover

Western Snowy Plover

Charadrius nivosus nivosus

Young Snowy Plover. Photo by Cheryl Reynolds
Snowy Plover chicks. Photo by Ioana Seritan
Snowy Plover chick in care. Photo by Cheryl Reynolds
Snowy Plover. Photo by Olivia Jenkins
Western Snowy Plover stretching. Photo by Patrick Sysiong
Snowy Plover closeup. Photo by Sushanta Bhandarkar
Young Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover Chicks. Photo by Ioana Seritan
Snowy Plover chick in care. Photo by Cheryl Reynolds
Snowy Plover. Photo by Olivia Jenkins
Western Snowy Plover stretching. Photo by Patrick Sysiong
Snowy Plover closeup. Photo by Sushanta Bhandarkar
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Young Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover Chicks. Photo by Ioana Seritan
Snowy Plover chick in care. Photo by Cheryl Reynolds
Snowy Plover. Photo by Olivia Jenkins
Western Snowy Plover stretching. Photo by Patrick Sysiong
Snowy Plover closeup. Photo by Sushanta Bhandarkar
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Species Facts

Conservation Status: Threatened, USFWS Bird of Conservation Concern

Description: The Western Snowy Plover is a small, sparrow-sized plover with long legs. They have white bellies, and tan feathers on their heads and back, and adults will have a black collar of feathers around the back of their necks.

Play Western Snowy Plover call:

https://www.birdrescue.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/XC599323-Snowy-Plover-Thomas-G.-Graves.mp3

Where to find them: This subspecies of the Snowy Plover can be found on sandy inland and coastal beaches in California and parts of Oregon and Nevada.

Fun Facts:

  • The oldest known Snowy Plover on record was 15 years and 9 months old (1).
  • Snowy Plover chicks are precocial, which means they can get up and start feeding on their own not long after hatching
  • When caring for Western Snowy Plovers at our wildlife hospitals, we play the sounds of ocean waves to help them feel more comfortable.

Threats: Habitat loss, nest disturbance, oil spills, people & pets, rising sea levels

How YOU can Help:

Be aware when visiting coastal or inland beaches! Don’t let your dogs off leash outside of designated dog beaches. Participate in a beach cleanup.

(1) https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Snowy_Plover/overview

Audio from www.xeno-canto.com Recorded by Thoomas G. Graves XC599323

Additional photography courtesy of Patrick Sysiong and Sushanta Bhandarkar

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