Distinguishing Characteristics

Medium-sized ringed plover of coastal habitats (overall length 165–200 mm, wing length 111–128 mm, mass about 55–70 g). In all plumages, bill all black, large, and heavy; upperparts generally grayish to grayish brown; underparts white, with black to brownish breast-band; and legs and feet flesh-colored to pinkish. In breeding (Alternate-plumaged) adults, gray-brown mantle is intermediate in color between paler mantle of Piping Plover (Charadrius melodius) and darker mantle of Semipalmated Plover (C. semipalmatus). Breast-band, lores, and forecrown black in males, but gray-brown with rufous tinge in females. Plumage varies geographically: West Indian and South American breeders show more rufous on head and breast-band; breeders on Pacific Coast show darker upperparts, less white on forehead and supercilium, narrower breast-band, and more rufous on head and (in females) on breast-band. Nonbreeding (Basic-plumaged) adults resemble breeding females, but upperparts are on average grayer, with feathers margined paler, and breast-band may be incomplete. Juveniles and immatures similar, but breast-band less distinct or less complete, and pale margins on feathers of upperparts create more strongly scalloped pattern.

Readily distinguished from other similar ringed plovers in the Americas by larger size; almost disproportionately large, heavy, all-black bill; and flesh-colored legs. Semipalmated Plover is similar in general appearance but smaller and more compact, with darker upperparts; much shorter, stubbier, 2-toned bill (base orange-yellow); more extensive black on head (breeding season only); and orange-yellow legs and feet (duller in nonbreeding season). Piping Plover also smaller, but with paler upperparts, orange legs, and a much smaller, stubbier, 2-toned bill (base orange-yellow). Snowy Plover (C. alexandrinus) also smaller and paler above, but has dark legs, dark and more slender bill, and incomplete breast-band. Collared Plover (C. collaris) also smaller, but with yellowish legs and a long but thinner dark bill, overall appearing more slender and less robustly proportioned than Wilson’s Plover. Killdeer (C. vociferus) is similar in size but has double breast-band, although downy young with single breast-bands can be mistaken for Wilson’s Plover. For additional information on field identification, see Hayman et al. 1986 and Howell and Webb 1995 .