The collared plover is a small shorebird in the plover family, Charadriidae. It lives along coasts and riverbanks of the tropical to temperate Americas, from central Mexico south to Chile and Argentina.
Region
Central and South America
Typical Environment
Found along coasts, estuaries, riverbanks, and lake margins from central Mexico south through much of Central America to Chile, Argentina, and Trinidad. It favors open, sparsely vegetated beaches, sandbars, and mudflats. Inland it uses wide river corridors and saline or freshwater lagoons. It generally avoids rocky shores and densely vegetated marshes.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 2/5
The collared plover is a petite shorebird recognized by its neat black breast band and clean white underparts. It favors open sandy or muddy shores where it performs quick run-stop-peck foraging. Males show crisper facial contrasts in breeding season. It is often tame yet alert, frequently bobbing and giving sharp whistled calls when disturbed.
Temperament
wary and active
Flight Pattern
low, direct flight with quick shallow wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually found singly or in pairs, sometimes in small loose groups on suitable beaches or river sandbars. Pairs defend small territories during breeding, nesting in a simple ground scrape with 2–3 eggs. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, following parents to foraging areas.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Gives clear, whistled peep and kleep notes, often repeated in short series. Alarm calls are sharper and more insistent when intruders approach the nest.
