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Wilson's plover
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{{Short description|Species of bird}} {{Speciesbox | image = Wilson's Plover male RWD2.jpg | image_caption = Breeding male (pair of below) | image2 = Wilson's Plover female RWD9.jpg | image2_caption = Breeding female (pair of above) | name = Wilson's plover | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 25 September 2021">{{cite iucn |author1=BirdLife International |date=2016 |title=''Charadrius wilsonia'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T22693774A93421931 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22693774A93421931.en |access-date=25 September 2021}}</ref> | genus = Anarhynchus | species = wilsonia | authority = ([[George Ord|Ord]], 1814) | range_map = Charadrius wilsonia map.svg | range_map_caption = Range {{leftlegend|#7137C8|Year-round}}{{leftlegend|#ff6600|Breeding}} | synonyms = ''Charadrius wilsonia'' ([[protonym]]) }} ''' Wilson's plover ''' ('''''Anarhynchus wilsonia''''') is a small [[bird]] of the family [[Charadriidae]]. It was named after the Scottish-American ornithologist [[Alexander Wilson (ornithologist)|Alexander Wilson]] by his friend [[George Ord]] in 1814.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Ord|first1=George|author-link=George Ord|title=American Ornithology or, the Natural History of the Birds of the United States|date=1814|chapter=Wilson's Plover, ''Charadrius wilsonia'' |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/46338010|pages=77–78|volume=9}}</ref> Wilson's plover is a coastal [[wader]] which breeds on both coasts of the [[Americas]] from the equator northwards. Its range extends north to include much of the [[United States|U.S.]] eastern seaboard, and the Pacific coast of [[Mexico]] on the west. ==Range and habitat== It is a partial [[bird migration|migrant]]. Birds leave the United States, except [[Florida]], to winter south in [[Brazil]]. Some Mexican birds leave in winter for [[Peru]]. Furthermore, a small [[Resident bird|resident]] population is known from Brazil, it being named as a new [[subspecies]], ''brasiliensis'', in 2008.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Grantsau, R. |author2=Lima, P. C. |name-list-style=amp |year=2008|url=http://www.ao.com.br/download/ao142_4.pdf |title=Uma nova subespécie de ''Charadrius wilsonia'' (Aves, Charadriiformes) para o Brasil|journal=Atualidades Ornitológicas|volume= 142|pages= 4–5}}</ref> In 2012 it was established that this is a [[junior synonym]], and the correct name for the subspecies is ''crassirostris''.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Carlos, C. J.|author2=J-F. Voisin|name-list-style=amp |year=2012|title=''Charadrius wilsonia brasiliensis'' Grantsau & Lima, 2008, is a junior synonym of ''Charadrius crassirostris'' Spix, 1825|journal= Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club|volume= 131|issue=1|pages= 165–170}}</ref> This also means that one of the subspecies of the [[greater sand plover]] had to be renamed.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Carlos, C. J.|author2=S. Roselaar|author3=J-F. Voisin|name-list-style=amp |year=2012|title=A replacement name for Charadrius leschenaultii crassirostris (Severtzov, 1873), a subspecies of Greater Sand Plover|journal= Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club |volume=132|issue=1|pages= 63–65}}</ref> [[File:Wilson's Plover.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Example alt ext|A plover on [[Sanibel Island]], Florida.]] This strictly coastal plover nests on a bare scrape on sandy beaches or sandbars. ==Description== The breeding male has a black breast band, lores and forecrown, and a rufous mask. Females and non-breeding males have a similar plumage, but the black of the breeding male is replaced by brown or rufous. Non-breeders have a greyer tint to the head and breast band. Immature birds are similar to the female, but the breast band is often incomplete. The adult's upper parts are mainly dark grey, with a short white wing bar and white tail sides. The underparts are white except for a breast band, and the legs are pink, brighter when breeding. The dark bill is large and heavy for a plover of this size. The call is a high weak whistle. '''Measurements''': * '''Length''': 6.3-7.9 in (16-20 cm)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Wilson's Plover Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology|url=https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Plover/id|access-date=2020-09-30|website=www.allaboutbirds.org|language=en}}</ref> * '''Weight''': 1.9-2.5 oz (55-70 g)<ref name=":0" /> * '''Wingspan''': 19 in (48.2 cm)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-15|title=SIB "Bird of the Week" – Wilson's Plover|url=https://seabrookislandbirders.org/2016/05/15/sib-bird-of-the-week-wilsons-plover/|access-date=2020-09-30|website=SIB|language=en}}</ref> ==Diet== Wilson's plovers forage for food on beaches, usually by sight, moving slowly across the beach. They have a liking for crabs, but will also eat insects and [[marine worm]]s. ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==Further reading== * ''Shorebirds'' by Hayman, Marchant and Prater {{ISBN|0-395-60237-8}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q979488}} [[Category:Anarhynchus|Wilson's plover]] [[Category:Shorebirds|Wilson's plover]] [[Category:Native birds of the Southeastern United States]] [[Category:Birds of the Americas]] [[Category:Birds of the Dominican Republic]] [[Category:Birds described in 1814|Wilson's plover]] [[Category:Taxa named by George Ord]]
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