By Sally Siko

One of the cutest species of birds we’ve got scampering across the sand flats of North Carolina are the plovers.
This is a Wilson’s Plover which I photographed recently while birding with a friend on Figure 8 island in southeastern NC.
We were thrilled to see this small shorebird searching for a meal and even got a chance to hear it calling out to an unseen mate in the nearby low dunes.

Named for ornithologist Alexander Wilson, this little bird stands at about 6” tall.
They’ve got bigger, thicker beak relative to our other similar plover species (the Semipalmated & Piping) Additionally, its breast band is wider and they tend to stand and walk a little more upright in the sand.
When hunting for a snack, Wilson’s Plovers usually tend to stick around inlets and sheltered coves in areas where there is wet sand present. That being said, you may occasionally find them searching for their favorite food (fiddler crabs!) on the beach on calm days.

Wilson’s Plovers are generally summertime residents of North Carolina but a few small flocks are known to spend the winter in the far southeastern corner of the state. That being said your best chance to see them is from now through mid October so get out there and enjoy them this year!

Photos by @sally_siko of @bestlife_birding on my beloved full frame 50MP beast, the mighty @canonusa #5Ds