Plover Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Plovers

Killdeer
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Charadriiformes
Family:	Charadriidae
Subfamily:	Charadriinae Leach, 1820

Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius

Snowy Plover, on the beach at Vanderberg, California

Plovers are small, active birds often seen near water, like beaches or wetlands. They are part of a bird family called Charadriidae, which also includes their close relatives, the lapwings. There are about 40 different kinds of plovers, and they are known for their quick movements and clever ways of finding food.

What are Plovers?
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What are Plovers?

Plovers belong to a group of birds called Charadriinae. There are about 66 different types of birds in this group, and most of them are called "plover" or "dotterel". Another group of similar birds, the lapwings, includes about 20 more species. Plovers are found almost everywhere in the world, except for very hot deserts like the Sahara or the icy polar regions.

Plover Features

Plovers have a special look that helps them survive. They have relatively short bills, which are their beaks. This is different from other shorebirds, like snipes, which have longer bills. Plovers use their eyes to find food, while birds with longer bills often feel for food in the mud.

How Plovers Find Food

Plovers are very good at hunting for their meals. They mostly eat small creatures like insects, worms, and other tiny animals without backbones. They use a special "run-and-pause" technique. This means they run a short distance, then stop suddenly to look for food. Once they spot something, they quickly grab it! This is different from other wading birds that might slowly poke around in the mud.

Plover Behavior: Tricking Predators

Plovers are also known for a clever trick called "false brooding" or a distraction display. If a predator, like a fox or a person, gets too close to their nest, the plover might pretend to be hurt. It might limp away, dragging a wing, to make the predator think it's an easy meal. This pulls the predator away from the nest, keeping the eggs or chicks safe. Once the danger is gone, the plover flies back to its nest as if nothing happened!

Group Names for Plovers

Did you know that a group of plovers has special names? You might call them a stand, a wing, or a congregation. If you see a group of dotterels, which are a type of plover, you can call them a trip!