180 
CHARADRIIFORMES 
Field Marks. A small, “peep”-Hke wader (See page 201), 
with very short, bill and a more or less well-defined breast- 
band. Very much paler than the Semipalmated, especially 
about the face. Its melodious little whistle has suggested 
the specific name meloda. This is the only small Ringed 
Plover breeding in Canada south of semi-arctic conditions. 
Distribution. Eastern North America, west across the 
southern parts of the Prairie Provinces but scarce west of 
Manitoba and not recorded from British Columbia. Breeds 
wherever found in Canada. 
A small, delightful shore bird, tuneful as well 
as beautiful. It is decidedly a sand-beach bird and 
is never seen in grassy or marshy situations. 
Figure 255 
Piping Plover; scale, |. 
278. Snowy Plover, le pluvier neigeux. Charadrius nivosus. Similar in size and 
general coloration to the Piping Plover. It has a slight black bar, back from the eye, but 
no breast-band, just a single black spot on either side of the 
shoulders where such a band would begin. The bill is all 
black (Figure 256). 
It has been taken in the State of Washington and may 
occur at any time in parts of British Columbia. There is a 
single record for southern Ontario. 
274. Semipalmated Plover. American ringed or 
RING-NECKED PLOVER. LE PLUVIER A COU BLANC. Charadrius 
semipalmatus. L, 6-75. A very small plover almost 
as small as a “peep,” of general resemblance to the Killdeer 
(Plate XXII B), but with one instead of two black breast- 
bands (Figure 257, compare with Plate XXI B) and without 
the ochraeeous rum]) and tail. Autumn birds are similar, 
but the colours are washed out and faded, especially the 
blacks about head. Legs and base of bill warm yellow. Tip 
of bill black. 
Distinctions. The smaller size would prevent any con- 
fusion with the Killdeer even if the single, instead of double, 
breast-band and the dark rump and tail were not determin- 
ative. Can be confused with the much rarer Piping Plover 
which resembles it in both colour and size. Considerably 
darker than that species, the back being the colour of Wet, 
instead of dry, sand. Adult with black bar from base of 
bill to cheeks (Compare Figure 257 with 255). Juvenile 
with cheeks brown instead of faintly greyish as in the case 
of the Piping Plover. 
Field Marks. Often accompanying Least and Semi- 
palmated Sandpipers and resembling them in size, but dis- 
tinguished from them by the decided breast-band. The dark 
coloration, especially of the cheeks, of the adult, will separate 
from the Piping. 
Distribution. North and South America. Breeds in the southern Arctics, across the 
continent south to Magdalen Islands, Churchill, southern Mackenzie, the Yukon, and 
Queen Charlotte Islands. Migrates throughout southern Canada. 
Figure 257 
Semipalmated Plover; 
scale, 5 . 
Figure 256 
Snowy Plover; 
scale, \. 
A pretty little plover frequenting both mud-flats and sandy beaches. 
In the autumn, the early migrating adults with their sharply defined mark- 
ings are distinctly noticeable in contrast with the duller, more blended 
juveniles that come later. Closely related to the Ring Plover of Europe 
from which it may be separated only by smaller size and a few minor 
details (See that species). 
