Semipalmated Plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

A small, plump plover with a black 'necklace' and partly webbed toes that nests in the sub-Arctic.

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About the Semipalmated Plover

Semipalmated plovers are 6.7 to 7.5 inches long and weigh about 1.7 ounces, about as much as two AA batteries. They have brown backs, white bellies, orange legs and one black breast band. They nest on sand or gravel ridges and beaches in the sub-Arctic and migrate across North America. They eat shore flies, worms, tiny crustaceans, beetles and spiders.^[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name: Charadrius semipalmatus^[1]
Size: 6.7 to 7.5 inches long.^[1]
Weight: About 1.7 ounces.^[1]
Lifespan: Up to 9 years in the wild.^[1]
Diet: Shore flies, worms, tiny crustaceans, beetles, spiders and fly larvae.^[1]
Habitat: Sand and gravel ridges and beaches for nesting; beaches, mudflats and fields in migration.^[1]
Where it lives: Breeds in the sub-Arctic and southern Arctic; migrates across North America.^[1]
Group life: Active during the day; some forage after dark.^[1]
Babies: 4 eggs, incubated by both parents.^[1]
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2024).^[2]

Fun facts

'Semipalmated' means having partly webbed toes.^[1]
A semipalmated plover weighs about as much as two AA batteries.^[1]
Parents fake an injury to lead predators away from their nest.^[1]

Vocabulary

semipalmated: Having toes that are partly webbed.
scrape: A shallow hollow in the ground that a bird uses as a nest.
migrate: To travel from one region to another with the seasons.
shorebird: A bird that lives and feeds along beaches, mudflats and other shorelines.
least concern: A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

Smithsonian's National ZooWashington, D.C. · Bird HouseSee this animal on the zoo's website ↗

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

[1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Semipalmated plover.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/semipalmated-plover (accessed 2026-10-08)
[2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Charadrius semipalmatus (Semipalmated Plover).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22693764/262195475 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.

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