Grey Plover
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Pluvialis squatarola
Locally common migrants & Winter visitors around the British coasts from November-May.
Breeds in the high arctic of North America.
Also winters in Western & Southern Europe, Africa & the southern USA.
They are known as Black-bellied Plovers in America.
Breeding Adults are spotted black and white on the back and wings. The face and neck are black with a white border; they have a black breast and belly and a white rump.
The tail is white with black barring.
The bill and legs are black.
In Winter, the body is mainly grey.
Juveniles are similar to the Adult winter plumage but with the back feathers blacker with creamy white edging.
In flight, they show black underwings [or armpit].
The call is a single whistle.