Photo: Alastair Rae / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Pied Plover
Hoploxypterus cayanus
Pied Plover (Hoploxypterus cayanus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of South America.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Pied Plover (Hoploxypterus cayanus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in South America. Adults weigh 75.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Hoploxypterus
- Species cayanus
Where it lives
Cis-Andean South America from eastern Colombia and eastern Ecuador to central Bolivia, northeastern Paraguay and southeastern Brazil
Quick facts
- Weight
- 75.8 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Pied Plover hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of rivers and riverside habitats, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Pied Plover is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Pied Plover (Hoploxypterus cayanus) is a species of bird in the Charadriidae family, part of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across South America. Its distribution covers SA cis-Andean South America from e Colombia and e Ecuador to c Bolivia, ne Paraguay and se Brazil.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 75.8 g, with a wing length of about 14.3 cm and a tail of around 6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 11.5 million km² — a very large global range.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Pied Plover?
The Pied Plover is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 75.8 g.
Where does the Pied Plover live?
The Pied Plover is found across South America with a range covering SA cis-Andean South America from e Colombia and e Ecuador to c Bolivia, ne Paraguay and se Brazil, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Pied Plover belong to?
The Pied Plover (Hoploxypterus cayanus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the Pied Plover eat?
The Pied Plover hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Pied Plover migrate?
The Pied Plover is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Pied Plover endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Pied Plover make?
1 real field recording of the Pied Plover — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Pied Plover's range?
The Pied Plover has a mapped global range of about 11.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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