Oystercatchers, Stilts,
Avocets, and Plovers
Trey Scott
Bio 586 presentation
Taxonomy
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Charadriiformes = most
widespread bird order
Taxonomy cont’d
• Family: Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
• Family: Recurvirostridae (Stilts & Avocets)
• Family: Charadriidae (Plovers)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
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11 species word-wide
3 in North America
no record in Kentucky by KDFWR
Genus: Haematopus
Oystercatchers
• all have long, laterally compressed bills
• plumage either entirely dark or dark above with white
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underparts
gray legs
habitat is along shorelines (usu. rocky) at temperate
latitudes around the world
favorite prey items are mussels, oysters, and limpets
birds tend to be residents (non-migratory)
are solitary nesters (not colonial), sometimes exist in
groups of several pair
Oystercatchers
• 3 species in North America
Eurasian Oystercatcher
: 1 record/accidental
American Oystercatcher
: Gulf of California, Pacific Coast of
Mexico, Gulf Coast, Atlantic Coast to
Maine
Black Oystercatcher
: Pacific Coast from Aleutian Is. To Baja
Peninsula
American Oystercatcher
American Oystercatcher
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largest oystercatcher
length: 18-20 inches
wingspan: 30-36 inches
weight: approx. 1.4 pounds
clutch size 1-4 buff gray eggs often with brown speckles
incubation 24-29 days (both incubate)
young precocial/leave nest after a few days/fledge after 5 weeks
parental care from both parents
1 brood/year
nest usually in sandy areas above high water mark and built by both
similar to Eurasian Oystercatcher but has brownish back/tail instead of
black back/tail
• will inhabit both rocky and sandy shorelines
• uncommon to rare throughout range
Black Oystercatcher
Black Oystercatcher
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length: approx. 17.5 inches
wingspan: 30-35 inches
weight: 1.4 pounds
clutch size: 1-4 pale buff olive eggs with black or brown spots
incubation 24-36 days by both parents
young precocial/leave nest shortly after hatching/fledge at 30-35
days
parental care from both parents
1 brood/year
nest usually in pebbly rock above high water mark built by both
Dark brown/black coloration throughout
Have been found to interbreed with American Oystercatcher
Research on Oystercatchers
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since these birds live along shorelines in temperate environments, oil spills
can affect them
Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound
Brad Andrews (OSU) analyzed the effects of persistent shoreline oil on
breeding success and chick growth in Black Oystercatchers (AUK 116(3),
1999
since birds forage along shoreline, their primary food source was
contaminated
found that chicks reared on areas polluted by oil gained mass at a slower
rate
also found that birds on a whole foraged less in polluted areas
concluded that slower mass gain did not translate into lowered fledgling
success and that effects of oil spill were confined to certain locales and not
throughout the Black Oystercatcher population of Prince William Sound
Recurvirostridae (Stilts/Avocets)
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seven species worldwide
three in North America
shorebirds with extremely long legs
members of this family have slightly
decurved bills
• only one species occurs in Kentucky
(Black-necked Stilt)
Stilts
• usually colonial (at least loosely)
• active nest defenders
• legs are typically red in color and very
long: along with Phoenicopteridae
(flamingoes) have the largest ratio of legs:
body mass of all bird genera
• belong to Genus Himantopus
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt
• only stilt found commonly in North America
• seen occasionally in extreme western Kentucky
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along Mississippi River and lower Ohio river
Solitary, pairs, or small flocks
Actively defend nest; will attack or splash water
with wings for distraction
Feeds along shorelines in shallow water or on
shore
Black-necked Stilt
• length: 14-15.5 inches
• wingspan: 25-27 inches
• weight: 5.9 ounces (legs 8-10 inches)
• are monogamous/ loosely colonial
• are migratory
• nest on ground; nest a shallow depression built by both
• clutch size: 3-5 yellow/buff eggs w/ brown or black splotches
• incubation 22-25 days (both incubate)
• female incubates at night / male during day
• young are precocial and can feed themselves shortly after hatching
• parental care by both
• young fledge after 4-5 weeks
• 1 brood / year
• diet consists of insects, crustaceans, worms, fish, and some seeds
• prefers freshwater
Avocets
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legs are long and gray in color
bill more strongly decurved than stilts
belong to the genus Recurvirostra
American Avocet is only species found in
North America
American Avocet
American Avocet
American Avocet
• has alternate plumages in breeding/non-breeding
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season
females look like males except for more decurved bills
fairly common west of the Great Plains, uncommon in
the Eastern U.S.
overhunting in the 1800’s and early 1900’s decimated
the population
now has federal protection and numbers are
stable and rising
American Avocet
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length: 18-20 inches
wingspan: 27-38 inches
weight: 11.1 ounces
monogamous and loosely colonial
clutch size 3-4 olive colored eggs w/ brown and black splotching
nest in shallow depression near water built by both sexes
incubation 22-29 days (both incubate)
young precocial and leave nest soon after hatching and feed themselves
parental care by both
young fledge at 28-35 days
1 brood / year
often feed in flocks of 100+ birds
diet primarily aquatic insects but also eats crustaceans and other inverts
Charadriidae (Plovers)
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67 species wordwide
16 reported in North America
pick food off of surface, do not probe, so bills are short
two genera: Pluvialis and Charadrius
Charadrius = winged plovers
all plovers use the “crippled bird” display to lure potential predators
away from the nest
• historically many N.A. species of plover were killed by market
hunters; this has led to the decline in number of several species
• plovers are migratory; some of the species fly 1000’s of miles to get
from breeding grounds to wintering grounds and vice versa
Plovers (Pluvialis)
• all have black chest, breast, belly
• like the American Avocet members of Pluvialis
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have alternating coloration for breeding/ nonbreeding
only three species found with regularity in North
America
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden Plover
Pacific Golden Plover (only on Pacific Coast)
Black-bellied Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Black-bellied Plover
• breed along Arctic Coast of Alaska and Canada
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(including Northern Territory Islands)
largest of the North American Plovers
are recorded sightings by KDFWR in Ballard and
Henderson Counties
travels in flocks
tend to utilize tidal marshes and salt marshes
Uses inland stopover points (like W. Ky) during
migration; this is a concern because these type of areas
are declining
Are uncommon (mostly) to common
Black-bellied Plover
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length: 11.5-13 inches
wingspan: 22-25 inches
weight: 7.8 ounces
clutch size: 3-5 gray-green, whitish, or brown eggs with dark brown spots
nest comprised of tundra moss primarily and is on ground
nest started by male and finished by female
incubation 26-27 days (both incubate)
young precocial and are cared for by both parents for first two weeks; after
then by male only
fledge after 23-35 days
1 brood/ year
typical forage consists of marine worms, molluscs, insects, etc…
monogamous breeders
American Golden Plover
American Golden Plover
American Golden Plover
• breed in Northern Canada from west Coast of Hudson
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Bay along Arctic Coast to Bering Sea Coast of Alaska
migrate extremely long distances and can fly at a rate
of 60mph for long distances
winters as far south as Argentina
almost eradicated by market hunters
winter plumage is gray-brown above and gray below
South American winter range is losing habitat
as a result birds are uncommon at best
broad white stripe on forehead and thin black bill help
to separate from Pacific Golden Plover
American Golden Plover
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length: 10-11 inches
wingspan: 18-22.5 inches
weight: 5.1 ounces
clutch size: 3-4 cinnamon / buff eggs with black and brown spots
nest on ground and composed primarily of tundra lichens, moss, and grass
nest built by male
incubation period 26-27 days by both
young are precocial and abandon nest soon after hatching
parental care by both
young fledge after 21-24 days
monogamous
1 brood/ year
feeds on grasshoppers, crickets, larvae, mollusks, and crustaceans
at tundra breeding sites will often eat many crowberries in preparation for
migration
Charadrius (ringed Plovers)
• most species in this genera have a ring or
collar around their neck
• seven species are found in N.A. with
regularity (Piping Plover restricted)
• all N.A. species except Piping Plover have
no differentiation in seasonal plumage
Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover
Snowy Plover
• only N.A. Charadrius besides Mountain Plover with
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incomplete ring on neck
instead has dark brown spots near shoulder
females and juveniles shoulder spots are lighter than
males, other than that they appear the same
snowy plovers like sandy, barren beaches; human
disturbance often causes failed nests
populations are declining and is threatened in parts of
its range and rare in almost all cases esp. on Gulf Coast
Snowy Plover
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length: 6-7 inches
wingspan:13.5 inches
weight: 1.4 ounces
mostly monogamous, but some males are polygamous
clutch size: 2-3 pale buff eggs with gray spots and scratches
nest is a shallow depression on the ground built by the male and
lined with debris by the female
incubation lasts 24-32 days
young are precocial and fed by both parents
1-2 broods/ year
some are residential but most migrate
feed by chasing waves in and out and capturing small crustaceans
and small inverts
Wilson’s Plover
Wilson’s Plover
Wilson’s Plover
• often will run instead of fly to get away from
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disturbances
plumage is similar except that males are slightly darker
are fairly common but habitat loss and human
disturbance are problems; human restriction on occupied
beaches helps
similar to the Semipalmated Plover but has a heavier
bill, pink feet, and a white eye stripe
the male makes several scrapes as a part of
courtship ritual and female then chooses one
Wilson’s Plover
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length: 7-8 inches
wingspan 14-16 inches
weight: 1.9 ounces
clutch size: 2-3 buff colored eggs w/ brown and black blotching
nest a shallow depression on the beach or mudflat above the high water
mark; also found at river mouths and inlets
are monogamous
incubation lasts 23-25 days (both incubate)
young are precocial and leave nest soon after hatching and forage
themselves
young fledge after 21 days and receive parental are from both parents
1 brood / year
are migratory
feed on small crustaceans, marine worms, mollusks, and aquatic larvae
winter in Central and South America along coasts
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Semipalmated Plover
• breed throughout Alaska and along Arctic coast of
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Canada, along Hudson Bay, and Labrador,
Newfoundland, and Nova Scotia
single dark breast band combined with black cheeks
and reduced white supercilium separate the
Semipalmated Plover from both Wilson’s Plover and the
Killdeer
Migrate in flocks and are often seen just before sundown
roosting with their heads tucked beneath a wing
Plumage in both sexes is similar
was overhunted in the late 1800’s but has recovered
well and is common where it breeds and migrates
Semipalmated Plover
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length: 7 inches
wingspan: 14-15.25 inches
weight: 1.7 ounces
clutch size: 3-4 olive colored eggs with dark brown or black markings
nest is on ground near shore and is built by male
monogamous and somewhat colonial
incubation lasts 23-25 days by both parents
young are precocial and leave nest quickly
young can feed themselves and are cared for by both parents
young fledge after 23-31 days
1 brood/ year
forage on shoreline for small mollusks, marine worms, eggs of marine
animals, and small crustaceans
Piping Plover
Piping Plover
• winters along Gulf Coast
• breeds in Prairie Pothole Region as well as along mid to
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north Atlantic Coast
has almost been eliminated in breeding grounds around
the Great Lakes
is a federally endangered species
similar to the Snowy Plover except it has orange feet
and an entire brown band around its neck
has a summer and winter plumage variation
interior nesting sites have been adversely affected by
dams and channelization
Piping Plover
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length: 7.25 inches
wingspan: 14-15.5 inches
weight: 1.9 ounces
clutch size: 3-4 pale buff colored eggs with black and brown spots
monogamous and loosely colonial
nests on ground near water and is built by both
incubation lasts 26-28 days
young are precocial but stay in the nest for 20-35 days when they fledge
are fed and cared for by both sexes
1 brood/ year
during nesting season are territorial but otherwise are not
forage on fly larvae, beetles, crustaceans and marine worms
often will forage on drier upper parts of beaches so that color blends in
Mountain Plover
Mountain Plover
Mountain Plover
• winters in San Joaquin Valley of California south
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into northern Mexico and Southern Texas
can be found mostly in drier, upland habitats
much of breeding areas have been converted to
agriculture
also utilized excavation mounds from prairie
dog colonies to nest on
as a result populations have declined and birds
are uncommon at best
Mountain Plover
• length: 9 inches
• Wingspan: 17.5-19.5 inches
• weight: 3.6 ounces
• clutch size: 2-4 olive buff eggs with many black marks
• mostly monagamous but some males polygamous
• nest is a depression often amid cacti or shrubbery and is built by male;
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material added during incubation
incubation lasts 28-31 days (both incubate)
male incubates first set, then female lays a second set and incubates these
precocial young feed themselves and receive care from both parents
young fledge at 33-34 days
2 broods/ year
forage on grasshoppers, beetles, flies, and crickets
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
Killdeer
• largest of the ringed plovers, also most
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common
only double banded plover in N.A.
distinctive call
often seen on ballfieds and other large, flat
expanses
red eye ring often bright
often return to same nest sight and same mate
can be upland as well shore oriented
recorded in 116 Kentucky Counties
Killdeer
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length: 9-10.5 inches
wingspan: 19-21 inches
weight: 3.2 ounces
clutch size: 3-5 buff eggs with brown and black spots
nest is a depression on the ground built by the male
monogamous and solitary
incubation lasts 24-28 days and both incubate
young are precocial, feed themselves, and leave the nest soon after
hatching
receive care from both parents and fledge after 25 days
2 broods/ year
forage on insects almost exclusively from a wide array of habitats
sexes similar in plumage
northern population is migratory while southern birds are resident