Snowy Plover

Anarhynchus nivosus

Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 18 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Canada Birds of Colombia Birds of Costa Rica Birds of Ecuador Birds of Mexico Birds of Peru Birds of the United States Birds of Alberta Birds of British Columbia Birds of Nova Scotia

By family

Plovers of Canada Plovers of Colombia Plovers of Costa Rica Plovers of Ecuador Plovers of Mexico Plovers of Peru Plovers of the United States Plovers of Nova Scotia

See what's near you right now

The Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

NT Near Threatened

Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Plovers
Genus Anarhynchus
Species nivosus

Where it lives

Coastal Washington to central Baja California (northwestern Mexico); inland Saskatchewan (irregular; south-central Canada) to California and central Texas; coastal Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan Pen.; inland central Mexico; southern, central Bahamas to Virgin Is.; Peru to south-central Chile

Quick facts

Family: Charadriidae
Order: Charadriiformes

Biology & behaviour

The Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) is a species of plovers in the family Charadriidae, order Charadriiformes. It is found in North America, Central America & Caribbean, South America — coastal Washington to c Baja California (nw Mexico); inland Saskatchewan (irregular; sc Canada) to California and c Texas; coastal Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan Pen.; inland c Mexico; s, c Bahamas to Virgin Is.; Peru to sc Chile.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the Snowy Plover live?

The Snowy Plover is found across Central America & Caribbean, North America and South America with a range covering NA, MA, SA coastal Washington to c Baja California (nw Mexico); inland Saskatchewan (irregular; sc Canada) to California and c Texas; coastal Gulf of Mexico to Yucatan Pen.; inland c Mexico; s, c Bahamas to Virgin Is.; Peru to sc Chile.

What family does the Snowy Plover belong to?

The Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.

Is the Snowy Plover endangered?

The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.