184 
CHARADR1 1 FORMES 
270. Black- bellied Plover, bullhead, le pluvier a ventre noir. Squatarola 
squatarola. L, 11. Plate XXII A. In spring and summer — -above, checked black and 
white; below, face, throat, and breast, solid black. Crown mostly white. Juvenile: above 
to crown, a dark ashy brown ground, finely 
speckled with cream or yellow; all below 
white; flanks, breast, foreneck, and face, softly 
striped with greyish brown. Adult birds in 
winter wear a plumage somewhat similar to 
that of the juvenile, but in early autumn are 
still partly in the summer coat. Most of the 
white may be worn off the upper parts and the 
black below is dull and mixed with the white 
of the incoming winter plumage. 
Distinctions. Like the Golden Plover, but 
somewhat larger. At all seasons it resembles 
that species in colour, but differs as follows: 
in spring, decidedly more white than black 
above, especially on crown which may be 
nearly immaculate, instead of the converse. 
The white of the back at this season is not at 
all yellow. Below, rear abdomen and under- 
tail-coverts, white instead of black. The 
juvenile is never as yellow above as the typical 
Golden Plover and the markings are consider- 
ably coarser and more blended. The breast 
pattern is in faintly blended stripes, never 
with the suggestion of crossbarring as in the 
Golden. In any plumage, may be distinguished 
from the Golden by white or very light rump; 
black, instead of grey axillars, and the presence 
of a rudimentary hind toe (Figures 261 and 
262, compare with 259). 
Field Marks. In spring, the Black-bellied Plover, with extensive black underparts, 
may be confused only with the Golden. Its whiter head and back make the best distinctions 
when the bird is still. On the wing, the black axillars stand out plainly against the grey 
ground of the underwing, and the white rump is conspicuous. In juveniles and autumn 
birds, the striped instead of faintly barred breast, black axillars, and white rump are the 
best field marks (Figure 261). The notes are quite distinctive, but must be heard before 
the difference can be appreciated. 
Distribution. Nearly cosmopolitan. In .America, breeding along the Arctic coast 
west of Hudson Bay. Migrates throughout all southern Canada. 
This is one of the finest plovers. 
Subfamily — Aphrizinae. The Surf-Birds 
The surf-birds are described by Dr. Coues as being plover masquer- 
ading under the guise of sandpipers. As there is but one species, a general 
description will be given under it. 
282. Surf-bird. l’oiseau du ressac. Aphriza virgata. L, 9-50. A rather large 
shore bird. Bill, plover-like with enlarged horny tip, longer and more slender than usual 
with that family; short legs and fleshy feet with small but 
well- developed hind toe (Figure 263). Adult: in spring, 
greyish brown above with some creamy feather edges and an 
irregular admixture of chestnut, working into stripes at the 
neck and crown and over the face and foreneck. Below, on 
flanks and breast, white heavily spotted and V-marked with 
greyish brown. Spots more or less veiled and coalesced on 
breast. Base of tail and rump white, remainder of tail dark. 
The juvenile is coloured very much like a juvenile Knot; 
greyish slate above, white below with foreneck and breast 
heavily streaked. Rump white. 
Distinctions. Spring plumage more like the spring Wan- 
dering Tattler (page 194) than anything else, but the grey is 
browner and distinctly marked on back and breast instead of 
Figure 263 
Bill and foot of Surf-bird; 
scale, L 
Figure 262 
Specific details of Black-belUed Plover; 
scale, L 
a, white rump; b, black axillars; 
c, rudimentary hind toe. 
