Identifying Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola

July is usually the most boring season in Hong Kong. Though some waders migrants are already on their way back, I'm still busy and too hot for a walk outside.

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola, also called Black-bellied Plover (usually talking the new world population), is a widely spread species and the largest among the genus Pluvialis.

In the subfamily Pluvialinae, there are four species while three can be found in HK (Grey and Pacific Golden are the two commons, European Golden is a vagrant, we are waiting for the first American Golden!). Being the largest member, Grey Plover can be easily spotted out in a wader flock but for distant birds in winter plumage, they can be confused especially with Pacific Golden Plover.

For Grey Plover, the bill is much stronger than the other three Golden Plover, and the upperparts are greyish, not showing any golden tone. Hallux is unique in this plover species but always difficult to be seen. In flight or stretching, white wing bars, mainly formed by the white spots on the inner primaries, white rump and the distinctive black axillaries should be enough for the identification.

Grey Plover in April 2013 - together with Marsh Sandpiper and Common Greenshank