The Black-bellied Plover is the largest and wariest of the plovers that pass through Michigan, a stocky, big-headed shorebird with a short, stout black bill. In breeding plumage it is spectacular — a jet-black face, throat, and belly set against a back spangled silver and white — while the birds usually seen on migration are a plainer pale gray, keeping the chunky shape and thick bill. In flight it flashes black "armpits" (axillaries) beneath the wing, a mark shared with no other regular shorebird here and useful at a distance.
It breeds on the high Arctic tundra and passes through the state as a migrant, favoring open mudflats, Great Lakes shorelines, beaches, and flooded fields, often standing apart from the smaller sandpipers and foraging in the classic plover run-and-stop fashion. Alert and quick to give its plaintive, three-note whistled call, the Black-bellied Plover frequently acts as a sentinel, flushing and alarming other shorebirds. Its late-lingering flocks are a feature of the state's fall shorelines.
Feeds on marine and aquatic worms, insects, small crustaceans, and mollusks taken from mudflats and shorelines with the plover's run-stop-peck technique. It hunts by sight on open flats and beaches, snatching prey from the surface, and often forages more spread out than the flocking sandpipers.
In its plain nonbreeding plumage it is a stocky, pale gray shorebird with a large head and a short, thick black bill. In flight it shows diagnostic black "armpits" under the wings, unlike any other regular Michigan shorebird.
No. It nests on the high Arctic tundra and passes through the state only as a migrant in spring and fall, on mudflats, Great Lakes shorelines, beaches, and flooded fields.
The Black-bellied Plover is wary and quick to give its plaintive whistled alarm call, so it often acts as a sentinel, flushing and alerting other shorebirds when danger approaches.
Most Michigan sightings are of nonbreeding or juvenile birds, which are gray, scaly, and plain below. The black armpit patch in flight identifies them in any plumage.
Other birds you might be looking at instead.
Pick the park — it takes less than ten seconds.
Start typing the bird's name, then pick it from the list.
Suggest a birding spot to add to the map. I'll review it before it appears.
Thanks! Your suggestion has been sent for review.
Found something wrong or out of date? Tell me what to fix — it goes straight to my inbox. (No email needed.)
Thank you — your note is on its way. I appreciate the help keeping this accurate.