(Charadrous squaterola)
The largest of the family =Charadridae= is the black-bellied plover. In
its plumage, both summer and winter, it closely resembles the golden
plover, as the black on the sides of the head, front of neck, breast
and abdomen disappear from both species in their winter plumage. But,
notwithstanding this, they can easily be distinguished by the small
rudimentary hind toe of the black-bellied species, the other having
but three toes. A few specimens of the golden plover have been taken
on the Coast, but it is of rare occurrence. The black-bellied plover
is reasonably common along the coast line, but it is not seen to any
great extent in the interior valleys.
=Color=--Upper plumage, dull brown, mottled with gray, the top of the
head being somewhat darker; under parts, nearly white and the sides
and breast streaked with brown. In the summer the throat and belly are
black.
=Nest and Eggs=--The nest is usually made on the uplands, where four
eggs are deposited of a pale olive, spotted with brown.
=Measurements=--Total length, 11 inches; wing, 7-1/2, and bill,
1-1/4 inches.
[Illustration:
SNOWY PLOVER MOUNTAIN PLOVER RING-NECK PLOVER
(AEgialitis nivosa) (AEgialitis montana) (AEgialitis semipalmata)]