THE BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. 



{Charadritcs squatarola.) 



The Black-bellied Plo\^er is quite cos- 

 mopolitan, though its range is practically 

 confined to the northern hemisphere, 

 passing southward in the winter to the 

 West Indies and northern South America 

 and breeding in the far No'rth. Not 

 only is its range extensive, but also its 

 list of common or local names. Some of 

 the better known of these are Whistling- 

 Field Plover, May Cock, Beetle-head, 

 Black-breast and Bottle-head. Its large 

 head has given it the name Bull-head and 

 its large, brilliant and expressive dark 

 colored eyes, which in summer are sur- 

 rounded by a white ring, have led some 

 of its admirers to call it the Ox-eve. 



The Black-bellied Plover is grouse-like 

 in appearance and differs from all the 

 other plovers in having a rudimentary 

 hind toe. It varies greatly in the color of 

 its plumage, both with age and with the 

 seasons. As it stands upon the beach, 

 decked in its summer plumage, it is a 

 striking and beautiful bird. As winter 

 approaches its plumage assumes a more 

 somher hue and becomes a mixture of 

 dark brow^n and gray above, while below 

 the plumage is white with lines and spots 

 of dark brown on the neck and breast. 



This bird is one of the largest of the 

 plover species. It will run rapidly for a 

 few yards and suddenly stopping will 

 elevate its head and closeh^ survey its 

 environment. The older birds are shy, 

 but the younger ones will quite readily 

 respond to the call of the hunter and will 

 usually approach his decoys. Its call 

 notes are of two kinds. One is loud and 

 penetrating and may be heard at a long 

 distance. This call consists of a number 

 of distinct notes, the second of whicli is 

 accented. The notes of the other call are 

 uttered in a low and satisfied tone as if 

 the bird were perfectly contented. Mr. 

 George H. Mackay found much to ad r:ire 



in the life of this Plover. He s^ys : 

 "There is something very aristocratic in 

 the bearing of the adult birds as you 

 watch them standing on the marsh vvith 

 their heads erect, .their black and white 

 plumage strikingly defined, and their 

 large, dark, liquid eyes ever on the alert 

 for danger. With the yellowish green 

 marsh grass for a background, they make 

 a m.ost interesting study in black and 

 white, which, coupled with that clCfir ]^en- 

 etrating note of alarm when danger is dis- 

 covered, cannot fail to impress one." 



When migrating it may fly alone or in 

 flocks. At times the flocks will assume 

 a wedge-shaped or a crescent-like form. 

 The latter seems to be the more common 

 form, and the ends of the crescent may 

 point either forward or backward. The 

 solitary birds are more frequent in the 

 interior, while the flocks are more com- 

 mon near the sea coast. The slow and 

 measured stroke of the long wings is well 

 fitted to a continuous and prolonged 

 flig-ht. When tired from flying at sea it 

 will rest on masses of seaweed or float 

 upon the water. 



The Black-bellied Plover feeds largely 

 on minute moUusks, shrimps, worms, sea 

 insects and Qn various larvae found in the 

 marshes. It also eats grasshoppers and 

 late in the season, at the North, berries 

 form a large part of its diet. It is at 

 this time that its flesh is most eagerly 

 sought by the connoisseur of game food. 

 Food is gathered with a quick stroke and 

 from the surface, for the bird cannot 

 probe for its food as do the sandpipers. 



This Plover is a tide bird, ''seeking 

 a large portion of its food on those ex- 

 tensive sand flats left by the receding 

 waters, which may be adjacent to marshes 

 where the grass is short, and which are 

 interspersed with barren places where 

 there is no grass, also to uplands and 



