Black-bellied plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Giorgi Natsvlishvili · Gardabani, Kvemo Kartli Georgia field photo
Key facts in one look
- Size
- 28–29 cm
- Diet
- Worms, molluscs and crustaceans
- Status in Georgia
- Passage migrant
- Recorded regions
- Adjara; Kvemo Kartli; Samegrelo; Guria
- Habitat
- Coast and lakeshore
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Conservation
- Global: VU (2024)
The black-bellied plover, or grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), known in Georgian as რუხი მეჭვავია, კვათარი or ტულესი, is a large plover that breeds on the Arctic tundra. In Georgia it occurs on migration: in spring in April and May, and in autumn from August to October, most often in September. It is 28–29 cm long. In summer the male has a black face, neck and belly and a mottled silver-and-black back. In winter it is grey. In every plumage it shows black 'armpits' in flight. It is harmless to people. In Georgia it is seen on the Black Sea coast, in Adjara, Samegrelo and Guria, and in Kvemo Kartli, at Kumisi Lake. Globally it is assessed as Vulnerable (VU), because its numbers have fallen by more than 30% over the last 23 years.
Identification
Black-bellied plover: how to identify it
A large, big-headed plover with a short, thick bill. In flight it shows black 'armpits' under the wings and a white rump. In Georgia it is seen at the water's edge, on sandy and muddy shores.
It is 28–29 cm long, with a wingspan of 59–60 cm and a weight of about 200–290 g. The body is stocky, the head large, the bill short and thick, the legs of medium length. The bill and legs are dark. In every plumage it shows a black patch under the wing, next to the body, the black 'armpit', and the rump is white.
In breeding plumage the male has a black face, neck and belly, a white forehead and nape, a black-and-white chequered back and wings, and a white undertail. The female is similar but less contrasting. In winter the black feathers are lost: it is pale grey above and greyish white below. Young birds look like winter adults but have a more scaly back. On migration it may be seen in either plumage or moulting between them.
The European golden plover (Pluvialis apricaria) has a back spangled with gold, a thinner bill and no black 'armpits' under the wing. So in the air the two species are told apart by the black armpits.
Colour
Swatches are illustrative. Do not identify a species by colour alone.
The black-bellied plover breeds on the high Arctic tundra of northern Russia, Alaska and Canada: on dry, stony ground, moss- and lichen-covered ridges, and sandy or gravel shores. Outside the breeding season it favours sea coasts, muddy and sandy shores, saltmarshes and estuaries. On migration it also stops at inland lakes. In Georgia it is seen most often in Adjara, at the Chorokhi delta and near Batumi. It also occurs in Kvemo Kartli, at Kumisi Lake and in Gardabani Municipality; in Samegrelo, near Poti and in Khobi Municipality; and in Guria, in Lanchkhuti Municipality. In Abkhazia, at Lake Inkiti, and in Shida Kartli only single birds have been seen.
The black-bellied plover map combines public iNaturalist observations. Regions are taken from the records-by-region table, and the status column separates regions with enough records from regions with too few records. All records fall in the spring and autumn migration. Record counts reflect observation effort rather than population density.
Data: Reptiles.ge + iNaturalist · Methodology
- Region with records
On the coast it eats mainly marine worms, molluscs and crustaceans such as crabs. Inland, on migration, it takes insects and earthworms. On the tundra in the breeding season it feeds mostly on insects and their larvae, with a little plant matter.
It is a full migrant. It leaves its breeding grounds from late July to September, and southward movement continues into November. In Georgia it is seen in April and May and from August to October. It winters on sea coasts in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. It often feeds alone or in small, loose groups, while in winter thousands may gather to roost. It stands upright. It runs quickly, stops suddenly, watches for prey and picks it up with its bill. It breeds in the Arctic from May to August, in single, well-spaced pairs. Neighbouring nests are at least 400 m apart. The nest is a scrape on dry, stony ground. It usually lays 4 eggs. Both parents incubate, for 26–27 days. The chicks leave the nest soon after hatching and start to fly at 35–45 days old.
Globally the black-bellied plover is assessed as Vulnerable (VU, 2024). It is still widespread and numerous, with about 1–2.5 million mature birds, but over the last three generations, 23 years, it has declined by more than 30%. The exact causes are unknown. Likely threats are habitat loss and degradation, disturbance and hunting. Climate projections suggest its breeding habitat will shrink by 82–87% by 2070. It is not on Georgia's 2014 Red List. An updated assessment from 2021, not yet approved, rates it Least Concern (LC) in Georgia, with a stable trend. That assessment was made before the 2024 change in its global status.
gogopopo · Giorgi Natsvlishvili · hsde66 · Nastya Klimova · Anna Evseeva · Pavel Shukov · Jan Ebr
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Yes, on migration. It is seen in spring in April and May and in autumn from August to October, most often in September.
Most often in Adjara, at the Chorokhi delta and near Batumi. Also in Kvemo Kartli, at Kumisi Lake; in Samegrelo, near Poti; and in Guria, in Lanchkhuti Municipality. Look on muddy and sandy shores.
It is a large plover with a big head and a short, thick bill. In flight it shows black 'armpits' under the wings and a white rump. In summer the male has a black face and belly; in winter it is grey.
The golden plover has a gold-spangled back, a thinner bill and no black 'armpits' under the wing. The black-bellied plover has a silvery-grey back.
It is 28–29 cm long, with a wingspan of 59–60 cm and a weight of about 200–290 g.
On the coast, marine worms, molluscs and crustaceans; inland, insects and earthworms.
The black-bellied plover is harmless to people. Globally it is assessed as Vulnerable, because its numbers are falling fast. It is not on Georgia's 2014 Red List. Do not disturb flocks of shorebirds on the shore.
References
What this profile is based on
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
Prepared by the Reptiles.ge editorial team from the sources listed here.
