Photo: Hans Hillewaert / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Vulnerable

Shorebirds

Grey Plover

Pluvialis squatarola

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 17 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of New South Wales Birds of Northern Territory Birds of Queensland Birds of South Australia Birds of Tasmania Birds of Victoria Birds of Western Australia Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Manitoba

By family

Plovers of New South Wales Plovers of Northern Territory Plovers of Queensland Plovers of South Australia Plovers of Tasmania Plovers of Victoria Plovers of Western Australia

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The Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Adults weigh 250 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Vulnerable.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

VU Vulnerable

Facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Plovers
Genus Pluvialis
Species squatarola

Where it lives

High (locally low) Arctic coasts and is. (except Ellesmere I., Greenland, Scandinavia and is. from Svalbard to Severnaya Zemlya)

Quick facts

Weight: 250 g
Diet: Aquatic hunters
Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes
Habitat: Grassland & open country

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Grey Plover hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Behaviour

A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Grey Plover is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

The Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is a member of the Charadriidae family, within the order Charadriiformes. It is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America. Its distribution covers NA, PAL high (locally low) Arctic coasts and is. (except Ellesmere I., Greenland, Scandinavia and is. from Svalbard to Severnaya Zemlya).

It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 250 g, with a wing length of about 18.4 cm and a tail of around 7.1 cm.

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern. Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

The species has a mapped global range of roughly 4 million km².

Songs & calls

Grey Plover — Flight call

Recorded by Uku Paal Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Grey Plover?

The Grey Plover is a large bird that weighs around 250 g.

Where does the Grey Plover live?

The Grey Plover is found across Europe & Northern Asia and North America with a range covering NA, PAL high (locally low) Arctic coasts and is. (except Ellesmere I., Greenland, Scandinavia and is. from Svalbard to Severnaya Zemlya), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.

What family does the Grey Plover belong to?

The Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

What does the Grey Plover eat?

The Grey Plover hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.

Does the Grey Plover migrate?

The Grey Plover is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.

Is the Grey Plover endangered?

It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is a focus of conservation concern Vulnerable species face a high risk of extinction in the wild if pressures continue.

What sound does the Grey Plover make?

1 real field recording of the Grey Plover — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Grey Plover's range?

The Grey Plover has a mapped global range of about 4 million km².