Plovers in Iowa

Of the four large plover species that can occur in North America, Iowa gets two regularly.

These are black-belied plover and American golden-plover. The other two that occur are Pacific golden-plover and European golden-plover.

Not surprisingly, Pacific is found along the Pacific coast of the United States from the North Slope of Alaska in the summer to southern California in the winter. European golden-plover is exceedingly rare in the U.S., with most records in far eastern Canada. There is one mind-boggling and recent record of a European golden-plover in northeast New Mexico.

While our golden-plovers are considered large, they actually are medium-sized when it comes to shorebirds. They are plump and stout-billed birds on fairly long legs. In non-breeding plumage, identification can be tricky as their bold spring colors become drab shades of light brown and white.

Juveniles appear a lot like the non-breeding adults, but have a more crisp appearance.

Black-bellied and American golden-plovers nest on the tundra of Arctic Alaska and Canada. In the spring, American golden-plover peak migration is in mid- to late April, while black-bellied peaks more toward mid-May. During the more drawn-out fall shorebird migration, black-bellied peaks around mid-August, while American is more toward late August.

Both species spend most of their time on the ground, running in short bursts and then stopping abruptly to scan for small prey such as insects.

While drab in the winter, golden-plovers are spectacular in their spring breeding plumage. Breeding male black-bellied plovers have a black face and belly. The crown and nape are mostly white. The upperparts are checkered black and white.

The females are not as boldly black underneath and have a dirtier brown head. Bill and legs are always dark in adults.

Breeding male American golden-plovers have a black face mask, throat and underside along with a dark undertail. A thick white stripe starts at the forehead and curves around the face and down the neck to the shoulders. The crown of the head is black. The backside is spangled gold and black.

One big difference in the breeding female is the face is more pale, which takes away from the “masked” appearance of the males. Bill and legs also are dark.

One of the better ways to tell the species apart, especially in their drabber, non-breeding plumage, is the presence of the totally white undertail in black-bellied plover. This stays white in all seasons, whereas American golden has a black to dirtier undertail in breeding plumage.

Another great way to tell the species apart is in flight. Black-bellied plovers have black armpit patches in all ages.

Black-bellied plover are the heaviest and largest of the North American plovers also nesting the farthest north. They have a huge range over the globe and can be found on six continents. They have more of an affinity to be near coastlines.

American golden-plovers are champion flyers, sometimes going nonstop from the East Coast of the U.S. to South America. They winter in southeast South America.

Iowa is lucky in that a significant part of the population migrates through the interior of North America on their way to the Arctic to breed. Cone Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Louisa County is an important stopover place for flocks with up to hundreds seen in the spring. The sod farms west of North Liberty have recorded some impressive numbers in migration as well.

Due to their almost dove-like faces, one of the colloquial names for them in the 19th and 20th centuries was “prairie pigeon.”

Photo captions:

BIRDS OF MAY

They couldn’t be found in any more different types of habitat. Most wood warblers are found in woodlands, no surprise. Some of the best places to see warblers are at a forest edge in the early morning hours, when the sunlight starts to illuminate the tops of trees and edge habitat. The warmth from the sunlight increases insect activity, which is their main spring food source.

Activity usually wanes out if the temperature rises quickly. Overcast days, especially with alight mist of precipitation, cast prolong warbler activity well into the day. Look for shorebirds along the shores of shallow lakes and ponds and along muddy river flats and sandbars. Before row crops shoot up in ag fields, look for temporarily flooded fields during wetter periods. Areas of shallow “sheet water” often attract shorebirds.

Suggested eBird.org hotspots in Eastern Iowa to both explore on the website and in person:

PHOTOGRAPHY ADVICE

As bird photographers, we can’t really pick and choose where we find photography subjects. Sometimes a desired bird is found higher up in a tree.

Trying to capture a bird against the sky can be challenging. Birds against the sky can be backlit and also seem low in contrast. If possible, try and switch your position to frame the bird in front of a wider branch or even in a group of vegetation, such as leaves. This will typically decease the backlighting and bring more coloration out.

BIRDING CALENDAR

Brandon Caswell has a keen interest in natural and social sciences. He enjoys bird-watching and nature photography in his spare time. He and his wife live in Marion with their two children.