The plover is a small shorebird that exhibits several interesting and unique behaviors to defend itself and its nest from predators. As a ground-nesting bird, plovers are vulnerable to predators and have evolved special adaptations to protect themselves, their eggs, and their young. These behaviors include distraction displays, injury-feigning, nest defense, and communal nesting.
Distraction Displays
One of the most common defensive tactics plovers use is distraction displays. When a predator approaches the nest, the parent bird will flutter its wings, call loudly, and run away from the nest while appearing injured. This attracts the predator’s attention and lures it away from the real nest location. Some specific distraction displays used by plovers include:
- Broken wing act – Plover drags its wing on the ground while fluttering the other and calling loudly
- Rodent run – Plover runs rapidly while holding body flat and horizontal to the ground, resembling a rodent
- Injury feigning – Plover lifts its wing as if injured and flops about while calling loudly
These distraction displays are highly effective at diverting predators and allowing the plover eggs and chicks to remain safely hidden in the nest. The displays take advantage of the parent’s cryptic plumage that allows them to blend into the surroundings once they move away from the nest site.
Injury Feigning
Plovers will also feign injury to distract predators from their nest. When a predator approaches, the parent bird will flutter on the ground, spread or droop its wings, and squeal loudly to mimic distress calls. This gives the impression that the plover is injured and an easy target. It encourages the predator to chase after the displaying adult rather than locating the well-camouflaged nest.
Some key injury-feigning behaviors include:
- Wing drooping – Plover holds one or both wings in a dropped position
- Fluttering – Plover flaps and flutters wings and body on the ground
- Squealing calls – High-pitched distress calls mimic noises of an injured bird
The predator is often fooled into thinking the displaying plover will be an easy meal and focuses its attack on the adult. This draws the threat away from the nestlings.
Nest Defense
While distraction displays and injury feigning are the primary defenses, plovers will also actively defend the immediate area around their nest as a last resort. When a predator gets very close to the nest location, the parent birds will become aggressive to drive it away. Defensive tactics include:
- Dive bombing – Plover flies directly at predator while calling loudly
- Mobbing – Pair of plovers call loudly and dive at predator together
- Fake nests – Plovers peck at predators investigating empty “decoy” nests near real nest
- Fighting – Plovers directly attack, kick, and peck predators at the nest
These types of distraction and defensive actions are only used when absolutely necessary to protect the nest contents once other methods have failed to deter the predator. The closer the threat gets to the nest, the more aggressively the parent plovers will attack.
Communal Nest Defense
Plovers may also nest in small colonies or close to other pairs. This allows for communal nest defense. Having multiple sets of eyes helps detect predators earlier. When one pair begins alarm calling or distraction displays, nearby plovers will join in mobbing behaviors to amplify the effect. Plovers recognize predators that routinely prey on shorebird eggs and chicks, such as gulls, crows, foxes, raccoons, and snakes. Working together provides more effective deterrence. Predators are more likely to leave the area when met with aggressive defense by multiple plovers at once.
Camouflage and Hiding Behaviors
In addition to active defensive measures, plovers rely heavily on camouflage and hiding behaviors to avoid predation. Their sand-colored, speckled plumage allows them to blend seamlessly into the beach environment when sitting on the nest. Plovers choose nest sites that provide optimal concealment from predators in depressions on open beaches. The eggs themselves are sand-colored and speckled, providing camouflage as well.
Young plover chicks exhibit freeze behaviors when threats are detected. Rather than fleeing, they flatten their bodies against the sand and remain perfectly still. This allows them to blend into the background and avoid detection. Parent plovers may also use calls to warn chicks of impending danger, signaling them to hunker down and hide. Relying on cryptic plumage and behaviors is a key part of the plover’s anti-predator strategy.
Conclusion
Plovers rely primarily on distraction displays, injury-feigning, nest defense, and camouflage to protect themselves and their nests from predators. Their cryptically colored plumage allows parent birds and chicks to blend into the sand when hiding or sitting on the nest. Distraction displays draw predators away by taking advantage of this camouflage after luring the threat away from the nest area. Direct attacks are only used when necessary as a last line of defense. These adaptations and behaviors have evolved to allow plovers to minimize predation, given their challenging nesting environment on open beaches and shorelines. The unique defenses exhibited by plovers provide excellent examples of the remarkable diversity of anti-predator behaviors seen across species. Their specialized tactics highlight the ingenuity of natural selection in producing innovative solutions for enhancing organismal fitness.
Defense Behavior | Description |
---|---|
Distraction Displays | Fluttering, injury-feigning, rodent run to lure predators away from nest |
Injury Feigning | Flopping on ground while calling and drooping/fluttering wings to appear injured |
Nest Defense | Dive-bombing, mobbing, attacking predators near the nest |
Communal Defense | Nearby plovers joining in mobbing and distraction displays |
Camouflage & Hiding | Cryptic plumage, nesting in concealed depressions, chick freeze response |
Key Takeaways
- Plovers use camouflage, hiding behaviors, distraction displays, injury feigning, nest defense, and communal mobbing to protect against predators.
- Behaviors take advantage of cryptic plumage to lure threats away from nests before attacking as a last resort.
- Defenses focus on drawing predators away and avoiding detection through concealment.
- Adapted specifically for ground-nesting in open, beach habitats.