Magellanic Plover | ||||||||||||||
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
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Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
Pluvianellus socialis |
This species is in its structure and habits much like a turnstone, but it cannot be confused with any other wader species. Its upperparts and breast are pale grey, and the rest of the underparts are white. It has short red legs, a black bill and a red eye. In young birds, the eyes and legs are yellowish in colour. The call is a dovelike "coo".
This species breeds near water, laying two large eggs on the ground, although usually only one chick survives.
Magellanic Plovers feed on small invertebrates, picked from the ground, or from under pebbles, again like a turnstone.
Shorebirds by Hayman, Marchant and Prater, ISBN 0-7099-2034-2