Belongs to: plovers

Compare with: golden plover

Grey plover Pluvialis squatarola

Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List


Best time to see: Oct to Apr

Key facts

Dumpy grey and black wader often found along muddy shoreline

Habitat: estuaries and muddy shorelines

Winter visitor to Britain; breeds in arctic Europe

Recognition

Summer: black below with grey spangled upperparts; winter: grey above and white below

Walks slowly, using eyesight to find food

Eats worms and invertebrates such as small molluscs and crustaceans

Lifecycle

Nest is a hollow on the ground

1 brood June – July; 4 buff spotted eggs

  • Main photo
  • winter

Photo © David Harrison

Photo © David Harrison