426 Field Museum of Natural History — Zoology, Vol. IX. 



Black-bellied Plover (summer plumage). 



plumage, but usually showing traces of whitish on the feathers; 

 abdomen and under tail coverts, white; forehead, white; axillars, 

 smoky black. 



Adult ill winter: Throat and breast, not 

 black; upper plumage, brownish, mottled with 

 gray; under parts, white; breast and sides, 

 streaked with ashy brown; bill, black; under 

 parts sometimes showing traces of blackish, 

 but not black; as in the breeding plumage. 

 Unlike our other Plover this species has a 

 rudimentary hind toe. 



Length, 11.25; wing, 7.45; tarsus, 1.85; bill, i.io. 



The Black-bellied Plover is more or less common in Illinois and 

 Wisconsin during the migrations. As is the case with a number of 

 species, a few non-breeding birds remain throughout the summer. 

 The black axillary plumes and rudimentary hind toe are good 

 distinguishing characters in any plumage. 



Black-bellied Plover. 



Genus CHARADRIUS Linn. 



135. Charadrius dominicus Mull. 

 American Golden Plover. 



Local names: Green Plover. Prairie Pigeon. 



Distr.: Arctic America (except the shores of Bering Sea), mi- 

 grating through North America to southern South America, in winter; 

 breeds in the far north. 



