General

Common Ringed Plover: Plump little plover with dark gray-brown upperparts, pure white underparts, and strong black mask and chest band. Base of dark-tipped bill and legs are bright orange. Female has a brown cast in the black bands. Juvenile resembles female but has even more of a brown cast; also has dull orange bill and legs.

Range and Habitat

Common Ringed Plover: In North America, this species breeds near the eastern, southern, and western coasts of Greenland, northeast Baffin Island, and the south coast of Ellesmere Island. Occasionally seen as a spring migrant on the Aleutian Islands and may linger to breed. Found on beaches, fields, and tidal flats.

Breeding and Nesting

Common Ringed Plover: Lays three or four buff eggs, lightly spotted with brown and black, in a simple scrape on the ground. Both parents incubate for 21 to 27 days. Chicks feed themselves but are guarded by parents until they can fly at 24 days old.

Foraging and Feeding

Common Ringed Plover: Searches for insects and aquatic invertebrates on moist beaches, mudflats, and shorelines. Walks forward several steps, pauses, then walks several more steps or dashes to catch prey.

Vocalization

Common Ringed Plover: Whistled, far-carrying "poo-ee."

Similar Species

Common Ringed Plover: Virtually identical Semipalmated Plover has bit of webbing between all toes, while the Ringed Plover is only webbed between middle and outer toes. Black mask on Semipalmated Plover stretches above the base of the gape without touching it, while the black mask on a Ringed Plover surrounds and touches the base of the gape.