The family Charadriidae contain the plovers, dotterels and lapwings. The term plover is often used to encompass all family members. The small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings. They hunt by sight, rather than by feel as longer-billed waders do. The largest plovers are the members of genus Vanellus and they are called lapwings.




Genus Charadrius

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus   Found: The Americas
Photographed by:  1, 7) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   2, 5, 6) Dick - North Carolina
    3) Dick - Cape May, New Jersey  4) Dick - Puerto Rico
6) Male in breeding display.




Plover, Collared   Charadrius collaris  Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil


Plover, Mountain   Charadrius montanus   Found: North America
Photographed by: 1) US Fish and Wildlife Service  2) Seabamirim


Plover, Piping Charadrius melodus   Found: North America
Photographed by:  1, 3 , 5) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   2) Len Blumin  - Connecticut   4) Mdf- Ontario
   6) Dick - North Carolina
1, 2) Juvenile  3) Female  4, 5, 6) Breeding Male



Plover, Ringed Charadrius hiaticula   Found: North America (northeast Canada), Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Andreas Trepte  2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - Scotland


Plover, Lesser Sand  aka Mongolian Plover  Charadrius mongolus   Found: North America (Alaska), Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by:  1, 2) Lip Kee Yap- Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve  3) JJ Harrison


Plover, Semipalmated Charadrius semipalmatus   Found: The Americas Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - North Carolina   2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) Dick - North Carolina



Plover, Snowy aka Kentish Plover   Charadrius alexandrinus Found: The Americas, Europe, Japan
Photographed by: 1) Mke Baird at Morro Bay, California 2) Len Blumin  3) Bogbumper - Bonanza saltpans, Cadiz, Spain
    4, 5, 6) Dick Daniels - Half Moon Bay, California



Plover, Wilson's Charadrius wilsonia   Found: The Americas Photographed by:  1) Len Blumin  - Fort De Soto Park, Florida   2, 3, 4, 5, 6) Dick Daniels - North Carolina 
Very similar to semipalmated plover, except Wilson's has longer beak.
3, 4) Breeding male  5, 6) Breeding female




Genus Pluvialis

Plover, American Golden  Pluvialis dominica  Found: The Americas, Europe
Photographed by:  1) OW Johnson of the US Fish and Wildlife Service  2, 3) Cláudio Timm - Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
1) Breeding


Plover, Black-bellied aka Gray Plover Pluvialis squatarola   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: Dick Daniels- North Carolina   2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8) Dick - North Carolina  5) Peter Wallack
1 - 4) Non-breeding plumage   5 - 8) Breeding plumage



Plover, Pacific Golden Pluvialis fulva   Found: North America, Europe, Asia, Australasia
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3)  Chris Queen - Kauai, Hawaii  4) OW Johnson, USFWS 
     5, 6) Dick Daniels - Kauai, Hawaii  7) Dick - Australia  8) Dick - Homer, Alaska 




Genus Vanellus
The lapwings are a diverse group with no clear unifying characteristics. Most have wattles (red, yellow, or orange) about the face aand most have distinctive markings about the face and breast. vanellus.

Lapwing, Northern Vanellus vanellus   Found: North America, Europe, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Eddie Van 3000  2) Gidzy  3) Dick Daniels - Scotland   4) Bob Hall