The mountain plover is a unique bird found in the western United States. Often referred to as the “prairie ghost”, mountain plovers have pale brown plumage that allows them to blend in with their open, arid habitats. These birds are specially adapted to living in harsh environments. In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the elusive mountain plover.
What does a mountain plover look like?
Mountain plovers are medium-sized shorebirds, measuring about 9-11 inches in length with a wingspan of 20-21 inches. Their plumage is pale brown above and white below. This cryptic coloration allows them to camouflage well in open habitats like shortgrass prairies, plains, and fields.
They have relatively long legs and a thin neck. Their eyes are large and placed high on their head, giving them good visibility. When in flight, mountain plovers display white stripes on their wings and tail. Their bills are black and their legs are pale yellow.
Male and female mountain plovers have identical plumage, but females tend to be slightly larger in size. Juveniles look similar to adults, but their colors are duller and they lack the crisp head pattern.
Where do mountain plovers live?
Mountain plovers are found breeding in the western Great Plains and Colorado Plateau regions of North America. Their breeding range extends from Montana south to Arizona and New Mexico, and east into portions of Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas.
These birds prefer open habitats with short vegetation and bare ground, including:
– Shortgrass prairies
– Plains
– Desert flats
– Heavily grazed grasslands
– Agricultural fields
During the winter, mountain plovers migrate south to California, Mexico, and Texas. They often congregate in large flocks at this time of year.
What kind of habitat do they need?
Mountain plovers require wide open spaces with short grasses and very sparse vegetation. They avoid areas with trees, shrubs, and tall grasses. Their preferred habitats include:
– Shortgrass prairies – These grasslands are dominated by short grasses under 12 inches tall, such as blue grama and buffalo grass. The vegetation is sparse enough that large areas of bare ground are exposed.
– Plains – Flat, expansive grasslands with very short vegetation allow mountain plovers to easily scan for predators and prey.
– Heavily grazed areas – Livestock grazing creates suitable habitat by reducing vegetation height and density. The short, open areas are favored by mountain plovers.
– Agricultural fields – Plowed fields, fallow croplands, and freshly sprouting wheat provide prime mountain plover habitat after harvest or planting.
– Desert flats – Flat, arid areas with sparse scrub in deserts and canyonlands offer suitable nesting sites.
What do mountain plovers eat?
Mountain plovers are carnivores who feed on a diet of insects and other small invertebrates. Their primary prey items include:
– Grasshoppers
– Crickets
– Ants
– Beetles
– Flies
– Caterpillars
– Spiders
– Snails
They forage by walking along the ground, scanning visually for movement. When they spot prey, they quickly run up and grab it or peck at the ground. Mountain plovers are diurnal, meaning they are most actively hunting during the daytime hours.
These shorebirds have several adaptations that aid their insect-eating lifestyle:
– Large eyes placed high on the head gives them excellent vision.
– Slender bills are ideal for probing into soil and plucking up prey.
– Long legs allow them to swiftly pursue prey.
– Cryptic plumage lets them stealthily approach potential food sources.
How do mountain plovers breed and nest?
The breeding season for mountain plovers runs from April to July. They nest on open ground, selecting sites with very short vegetation and good visibility. The nest itself is a simple scrape in the dirt, sometimes lined with small pebbles or debris.
Male mountain plovers perform aerial displays during courtship, spiraling high in the air and diving back down. Once females choose a mate, the male will help defend the territory around the nest site.
The female lays a clutch of 2-4 eggs over the span of several days. The eggs are buff colored with dark brown spotting, and blend in well against the dirt and pebbles of the nest. Incubation duties are shared by both parents. The eggs hatch after 28-31 days.
Precocial young are able to walk and feed themselves soon after hatching. The parents continue caring for them for another 30 days or so as they grow and gain flight abilities. Mountain plovers may raise two broods per breeding season.
Are mountain plovers endangered?
While mountain plovers are currently not considered globally threatened, populations have declined by over 60% since 1966. As a result, they are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List.
Several factors contribute to their decreasing numbers:
– Habitat loss – Conversion of native prairies to cropland and urban development removes essential breeding areas.
– Intensive agriculture – Practices like annual tilling and use of pesticides reduces prey availability.
– Overgrazing – Too much livestock grazing degrades nesting sites.
– Predation – Nest are vulnerable to foxes, coyotes, snakes, ground squirrels, and other predators.
To help conserve mountain plovers, land management practices can be implemented to preserve suitable habitat. Limiting pesticide use and grazing intensity in key breeding areas gives plovers the open, shortgrass sites they rely on.
Where can I see a mountain plover?
Your best chances of spotting a mountain plover is by visiting one of their breeding habitats in the western Great Plains during spring and summer. Some top places include:
Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado – This public grassland provides prime nesting and foraging areas for the birds. Pawnee is well known among birders for mountain plover viewing.
Comanche National Grassland, Colorado -Another excellent site, Comanche offers wide open shortgrass prairies where plovers congregate. Being cautious to avoid nests, birders may see flocks here during breeding season.
Rita Blanca National Grassland, Texas – Stretching across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, Rita Blanca provides key mountain plover habitat in the southern portion of their range. Tread carefully off-trail when looking for the well-camouflaged plovers.
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado – This former military site near Denver now protects shortgrass prairies where mountain plovers can often be spotted. Guided birding tours are available.
Audubon’s Appleton-Whittell Research Ranch, Arizona – Volunteers are welcome to help survey for mountain plovers on this protected grassland preserve in Elgin, Arizona during breeding season.
How can I attract mountain plovers to my yard?
Unfortunately mountain plovers do not adapt well to urban and suburban areas. But those living within their range can try enhancing backyard habitat by:
– Landscaping with short, sparse native grasses instead of lush lawns. Avoid trees and shrubs.
– Letting grass grow longer in some areas to shelter ground insects that plovers feed on.
– Installing gravel, dirt, or sand patches for nesting and foraging sites.
– Limiting use of insecticides which reduce prey availability.
– Providing open sight lines, as plovers favor areas with wide visibility.
– Positioning shallow dishes of water at ground level for drinking and bathing.
– Setting up ground-level perches, like low rocks or fence posts, to serve as lookout posts.
With the right habitat conditions, you may be able to occasionally attract visiting mountain plovers, though they will likely not take up residence or breed in a backyard setting.
Key Facts About Mountain Plovers
Scientific Name | Charadrius montanus |
Other common names | Prairie plover, upland plover |
Size | 9-11 inches long, 20-21 inch wingspan |
Habitat | Shortgrass prairies, plains, open desert flats, overgrazed lands, plowed agricultural fields |
Diet | Insects and small invertebrates |
Unique traits | Cryptic brown plumage, large eyes, long legs, two partial neck collars |
Conservation status | Near threatened |
Conclusion
In summary, the mountain plover is a declining shorebird specially adapted to living in open, shortgrass habitats in the western Great Plains and southwestern deserts. Their pale coloration provides camouflage in the exposed landscapes they call home. Mountain plovers feed on insects flushed from the sparse vegetation. They nest directly on bare ground, where their eggs are highly vulnerable. While not currently endangered, habitat loss and other factors have substantially reduced mountain plover numbers over the past decades. Protecting their specialized breeding habitats will be key to recovering mountain plover populations. With careful management, birders and nature enthusiasts will be able to enjoy encountering these elusive prairie birds for years to come.