Piping Plover vs African Three-banded Plover

Charadrius melodus compared with Charadrius tricollaris

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Piping Plover African Three-banded Plover
Scientific Name Charadrius melodus Charadrius tricollaris
Order Charadriiformes Charadriiformes
Family Charadriidae Charadriidae
Conservation Status Near Threatened Least Concern
Length
Wingspan 23.1 cm (9.1 in) 21.8 cm (8.6 in)
Weight 53.4 g (1.88 oz) 35.0 g (1.23 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 4 2
Population Trend
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Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Piping Plover only

None

African Three-banded Plover only

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Conservation Status

Near Threatened

Piping Plover

Least Concern

African Three-banded Plover

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About These Birds

Piping Plover

Piping Plover: 17–18 cm, pale sandy-gray plover with an incomplete breast-band, orange legs, and yellow-orange bill. Breeds on Atlantic beaches, Great Lakes shores, and Great Plains rivers of North America. Critically threatened by beach disturbance; listed as Near Threatened globally. Winters on Gulf and Atlantic coasts. NT.

African Three-banded Plover

African Three-banded Plover: 17–18 cm, small plover with two complete black breast-bands separated by white, red eye-ring, and red-based bill. Widespread resident across sub-Saharan Africa near freshwater margins, mudflats, and reservoir edges. Feeds on invertebrates by pecking. Year-round resident with local movements during dry season.

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