Mountain Plover

Related Bird Resources Plovers Shorebirds Types of Birds

While most plover species are associated with coastal areas, the mountain plover (Charadrius montanus) inhabits grassland areas in both its breeding and wintering range.

The breeding range extends from the high plains grasslands of the Rocky Mountains into the Great Plains, while the wintering range extends from the inland valleys of Central and Southern California, with smaller winter populations present in Southern Arizona and South Texas.

They are medium sized birds with light brown feathers. Their diet consists of insects within their territory

Twice (1999 and 2002) the United States Fish and Wildlife Service considered listing the Mountain Plover as a threatened species because of general population declines and a loss of nesting habitat, especially in the Great Plains region.

Ultimately the federal listing was rescinded, although the relevant states list it as a species of concern, along with other similar titles. The listings mean that local populations continue to be monitored.

Current population estimates suggest that aggregate population has somewhat stabilized at roughly the 10,000 mark.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels