A large, distinctive, crested plover with broad, rounded wings and an unmistakable, undulating flight style; casual to northern Atlantic Coast. Head mainly white, with a black crown and wispy black crest (longer in males), an irregular black mark around eye and cheek, and black chin and throat. Basic Adults have white throat and pale-tipped wing feathers. Upperparts glossy green, with metallic purple and blue sheen on scapulars and coverts. Primaries are black. Underparts white, except for black breastband and buffy-orange undertail coverts. The tail is white with a black terminal band.

Length: 32 (cm) Wingspan: 84 (cm)

Habitat:

Mudflats, estuaries, fields, grazed grasslands.

Behavior:

Like other plovers, walks along ground in open areas. In core wintering range, forms flocks of several thousand birds. Nest is a shallow scrape among short grasses.

Feeding:

Forages on ground, among grasses and bare earth. Eats insects, worms, ants, small frogs, spiders, and some plants.