Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
The Semipalmated Plover spends winters along the coastlines of North and South America, from the USA south to northern Chile and Argentina, usually at beaches or mud flats. These birds breed largely in the high Arctic tundra from Alaska and northern Canada through the Hudson Bay region and the coastal zone of northeastern Canada.
The term semipalmated refers to their partially webbed foot, which seems to help them navigate the soft muddy tidal areas where we often find them searching for a meal. The Semipalmated Plover makes its living preying on insects, worms, and small crustaceans.
Plovers are some of my favorite shorebirds. These birds have a similar appearance to their larger cousins, the Killdeer, but only have a single dark breast band. Similar in size to Snowy Plovers, the Semipalmated Plover’s plumage is much bolder. And where the Snowy Plover prefers sandy beaches, the Semipalmated Plover loves mudflats.
Science regards the Semipalmated Plover as monotypic (i.e. no subspecies).
Until my spring 2020 Texas adventure, my only encounters with the Semipalmated Plover were in California. Texas graced me with meetings on South Padre Island. During my 16,000 mile, seven-month expedition of western North America, I met them east of Yellowstone National Park in Cody Wyoming.
28 Photos
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: (Charadrius semipalmatus) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 11:40 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4401-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: (Charadrius semipalmatus) Part of the collection at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo, California USA 2011-11-01. |
Date Taken: 2011:11:01 11:41 |
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Location:
W F V Z |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 105 mm, f/8.0, 1/2 |
File Name: D3X4402-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Loafing migrant at the San Diego River Channel near Robb Field. Ocean Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:22 9:40 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd1449SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, www.shadetree-imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: (Charadrius semipalmatus) in the San Diego River Channel near Robb Field. Ocean Beach, San Diego, California USA 2008-09-22. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:22 9:40 |
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Location:
Ocean Beach |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: jcd1451SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Nonbreeding adult near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-16. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:16 8:54 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD6488.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: (Charadrius semipalmatus) Nonbreeding adult near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-16. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:16 9:21 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD6592.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: (Charadrius semipalmatus) Nonbreeding adult near The Cove. La Jolla, California. San Diego County USA 2009-09-28. |
Date Taken: 2009:09:28 7:04 |
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Location:
La Jolla |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/100 |
File Name: JCD6634.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 - Jack Daynes - shadeTree Imaging |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: San Diego River Channel near Robb Field. Ocean Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:04 8:37 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD7714.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: San Diego River Channel near Robb Field. Ocean Beach, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:05:04 8:37 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD7717.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: The Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve is in north Mission Bay near Crown Point. San Diego County California USA 2009-04-24. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:24 13:01 |
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Location:
Kendall-Frost Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD6814.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Salton Sea in Imperial County, near Poe Road. Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2015:10:16 14:52 |
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Location:
Salton Sea |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D720628-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: A day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:19 10:27 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X4695-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Fall migrant we saw during a day at the Saltworks, part of the San Diego National Wildlife Complex. Near Imperial Beach, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:08:19 10:11 |
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Location:
Saltworks |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X4614-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:08:23 6:16 |
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Location:
J-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X1478-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: 7th Street mudflats. Part of the South San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:07:24 11:24 |
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Location:
7th Street Overlook |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X0994-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: 7th Street mudflats. Part of the South San Diego Bay NWR, San Diego, California. |
Date Taken: 2013:07:24 11:24 |
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Location:
7th Street Overlook |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X0986-SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Semipalmated Plovers are found near my San Diego home, but it was nice to see them here in Texas as well. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:44 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_D501671-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: Semipalmated Plovers are found near my San Diego home, but it was nice to see them here in Texas as well. The Convention Center on South Padre Island, Texas is a first rate birding destination. I spent several hours in the morning and several more in the afternoon on this day. |
Date Taken: 2020:04:30 17:45 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 800 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_D501696-South-Padre |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: This plover was a new arrival at the marsh. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:07 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SemipalmatedPlover_D5X8652-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: This plover was a new arrival at the marsh. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:09 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SemipalmatedPlover_D5X8699-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: The high heat and humidity didn’t slow down the foraging of this Semipalmated Plover. My first day on South Padre Island was as much about catching up with friends in south Texas as it was about visiting with its birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:01 12:16 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_8506923-SPI.NatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
|
Description: The high heat and humidity didn’t slow down the foraging of this Semipalmated Plover. My first day on South Padre Island was as much about catching up with friends in south Texas as it was about visiting with its birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:01 12:15 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_8506916-SPI.NatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
|
Description: The high heat and humidity didn’t slow down the foraging of this Semipalmated Plover. My first day on South Padre Island was as much about catching up with friends in south Texas as it was about visiting with its birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:01 12:14 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_8506870-SPI.NatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
|
Description: The high heat and humidity didn’t slow down the foraging of this Semipalmated Plover. My first day on South Padre Island was as much about catching up with friends in south Texas as it was about visiting with its birds. |
Date Taken: 2022:09:01 12:12 |
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Location:
South Padre Island Nature Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_8506789-SPI.NatureCenter |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: During my two-day stay in Cody Wyoming, I paid two visits to nearby Alkali Lake and enjoyed the waterfowl, shorebirds, and gulls I met there. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:17 9:33 |
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Location:
Alkali Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_8501512-Cody-AlkaliLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: During my two-day stay in Cody Wyoming, I paid two visits to nearby Alkali Lake and enjoyed the waterfowl, shorebirds, and gulls I met there. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:17 9:33 |
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Location:
Alkali Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SemiPalmatedPlover_8501509-Cody-AlkaliLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
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Description: The Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve is in north Mission Bay near Crwn Point. San Diego County California USA 2009-04-24. |
Date Taken: 2009:04:24 13:02 |
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Location:
Kendall-Frost Marsh |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD6820.SemiPalmatedPlover |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Semipalmated Plover(Charadrius semipalmatus) |
|
Description: This plover was a new arrival at the marsh. Sunday was the 2nd day of the great warbler fallout, but unlike Saturday’s expedition, the sun shone through to light her subjects. |
Date Taken: 2021:04:18 16:08 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: SemipalmatedPlover_D5X8692-SPI_ConventionCtr |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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