The Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, is a long-distance migrant, nesting well up in the arctic and subarctic before heading back to winter along both coasts. Here in CA we see them often on the mudflats of Bodega Harbor (Doran Beach is best). Back east in early August we saw these Semipalmated Plovers at the end of Cosey Beach Ave. in East Haven, as well as at Hammonasset State Beach.
This small "single-banded" plover is perhaps the easiest plover to identify, with the single complete dark band breast band (adult Killdeer has 2 bands), dark back, yellow-orange legs and bicolored bill. In breeding plumage the dark colors intensify, especially the bands on the forecrown and chest. Female similar to male, but dark bands are less prominent. Note the thin yellow orbital ring, often missed when viewing at a distance. Male in foreground, and the one behind is likely a female.
"Semipalmated" refers to the incomplete webbing between the toes, which helps it when walking on the mud, sort of like wearing snowshoes. We don't usually notice the webbing in the field, but a cropped of the above photo hows it pretty well. The second photo feature a male Semipalmated, and the blurred bird in the background may be a female.
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