Bahamas (NB), Barbados (NB), Bermuda (NB), Canada (B) (P), Cuba (NB), Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica (NB), Mexico (NB), Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico (NB) (P), St Pierre and Miquelon (B), Turks and Caicos Islands (NB), USA (B), Virgin Islands (British) (NB), Virgin Islands (U.S.) (NB).
Vagrant to Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines (NB).
Northern Great Plains, Great Lakes and Atlantic coast from Newfoundland south to North Carolina. Winters on Atlantic coast of southern USA, Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas and rather locally in Greater Antilles; also western Mexico.
Rarity Status
Currently this species is not classified as a rarity in this country OR information has not been updated.
Population
Estimated population is 6,400 (2010) and increasing.
Status NT
Inappropriate water and beach management, development and disturbance are the main threats.
For more information see BirdLife International Species Factsheet.
Voice
A plaintive whistle, 'peep' or a descending 'peep-lo'.
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) [XC174373]
by Dan Lane from Coastguard Station, Jones Beach, Long Island, New York, United States (call)
Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) [XC182334]
by Nick Komar from Bolivar Peninsula, Galveston County, Texas, United States (call)
Subspecies
In past, two subspecies recognized on basis of extent of breast band, with nominate (coastal nesters), and circumcinctus (Great Lakes and prairies), but subdivision rendered unsatisfactory due to considerable individual and seasonal variation.
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
circumcinctus (Ridgway, 1874) - South-central Canada, north-central USA.
melodus Ord, 1824 - Eastern Canada and US. Winters south-eastern US, Bahamas and Gr. Antilles.
Similar Species
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) which is smaller with blackish legs and thinner bill.
References
See References.
BirdLife International Species Factsheet