Lapwings and Plovers Archives - Window to Wildlife

Killdeer with chicks at Grant Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on July 10, 2026

One of my birding stops of the day was Grant Park. The Oak Creek outlet to Lake Michigan small beach area at Grant Park had 4 Killdeer chicks. They ran around the beach area getting things to eat. An adult Killdeer was also present in the area. A Great Blue Heron landed on the point and all the Killdeer chicks headed into the tall weeds there out of sight. I’m assuming the adult directed them in there to take cover with the Great Blue Heron now on their small beach. The Great Blue Heron caught a couple of fish to eat. I never saw the chicks come out of the tall weeds again so I left the area. It was fun to see them little ones out and about while the excitement lasted. It was a sunny day with mild temps and low winds. Images were taken on July 10, 2026.

One of the Killdeer chicks walking in the water finding things to eat…

Finding something to eat here…

Along comes the Great Blue Heron, it is hungry too…

Adult Killdeer off in a distance overseeing the situation while the little ones are off in the tall weeds…

Snow Buntings at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on October 29, 2025

By admin | October 29, 2025 - 5:23 pm |October 29, 2025 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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A stop today at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee along the lakefront gave nice views of 4 Snow Buntings. They have been reported there. The Snow Buntings continually found seeds to eat. Typical places they always find seeds here at the park are in the short grass areas, along sidewalk edges, on the rocks and cracks in the walks. Seeds blow around this time of year and end up at those locations. I’ve seen them jump up to low grasses and plants to get seeds but did not see that today in the mowed areas. It was very windy at the lakefront with northwest winds, the sun made it doable today to enjoy the show that these beautiful birds put on. Images were taken on October 29, 2025.

The Snow Bunting on the rocks with the wind blowing…

Finding seeds along the walk…

Here there were seeds too in the grass area…

Here the Snow Bunting with a seed in the bill…

Here the Snow Bunting was getting seeds to eat in the cracks on the sidewalk…

Such a beautiful bird!

American Golden-Plover at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on September 2, 2025

By admin | September 2, 2025 - 5:53 pm |September 2, 2025 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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A beautiful American Golden-Plover was giving great views this morning at Pebble Beach which is just north of McKinley Beach. The bird was feeding on the algae mats along the waters edge finding things to eat. They walk, stop, must listen, then make a quick poke in the algae getting something to eat. It happens very, very fast. Also present was a Sanderling. It was a beautiful morning out early with a small breeze, mostly sunny skies. Images were taken on September 2, 2025.

The American Golden-Plover…

Finding something to eat…

More distant, showing habitat they like for finding food…

More distant, showing habitat they like for finding food…

A Sanderling present…

Killdeer on the nest in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on April 10, 2024

By admin | April 10, 2024 - 8:02 pm |April 11, 2024 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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While out birding I came across a Killdeer walking along a road. I looked around and saw and adult Killdeer sitting on the nest. The bird stood up and I saw the eggs, two of them. I immediately left the area not to disturb anything. A couple photos here showing both birds, the one on the nest and the other about 75 feet away from the nest. It was a beautiful morning with full sun, 60 degrees and low winds. Image was taken on April 10, 2024.

The Killdeer on the nest but stood up when I drove by…

The other adult bird away from the nest…

Closeup…

Ruddy Turnstones at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on May 25, 2023

By admin | May 25, 2023 - 5:25 pm |May 25, 2023 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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One of my birding stops today gave nice views of 4 Ruddy Turnstones all males. They were found at the far north end of McKinley Beach, some call it pebble beach. Also present was one Semipalmated Plover, a male. While I was there they were flushed a couple of times by walkers but always returned to the beach. I caught a little bit of their feeding action of finding things to eat that had washed up on the beach. It was a beautiful morning with full sun and a good breeze off the lake, almost felt cold at times, temps were around 60 degrees. Images were taken on May 25, 2023.

One of the 4 Ruddy Turnstones…

Going for something here to eat…

Something in the bill here, it is small…

Getting something here to eat…

A Semipalmated Plover, male…

Just another shot!

Killdeer on the Milwaukee lakefront in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 8, 2023

By admin | March 8, 2023 - 5:45 pm |March 10, 2023 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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One on my birding stops this morning provided nice looks at a pair of Killdeer. They were mating or called the a cloacal kiss and finding a few things to eat too. I have one photo of the two birds mating. It was a nice morning with some filtered sun, low winds and mild temps around 35 degrees. Images were taken on March 8, 2023.

The Killdeer…

Mating…

Walking around in the grass finding a few things to eat…

Snowy Plover at South Metro in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on July 22, 2021

By admin | July 22, 2021 - 9:55 pm |July 23, 2021 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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I saw the report of a Snowy Plover at South Metro and decided to take a chance to get this life bird on my Wisconsin life list. Jessica H found this bird and got the word out. It was 7:15 PM and they lock the gate at 8:00 pm. I took off, got there and after going down the 121 steps, the security guard told me, turn around sir! He was kicking out a couple of young kids fishing and then me. A girl in the parking lot there told me there was a path along a fence line. I found it and went down the bluff walking through acres of poison ivy, not me friend. After finally getting to the beach I found the bird. #360. I hope the bird hangs around for others to see it. New image taken on July 23, 2021

The Snowy Plover

The Snowy Plover walking on the algae near the water…

The Snowy Plover resting. It did this 95% of the time I was there…

Killdeer Eating and Preening in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 27, 2020

By admin | March 29, 2020 - 7:22 pm |March 29, 2020 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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One of my birding stops in Milwaukee County gave nice looks at a pair of Killdeer. They preened, rested and found things to eat while I was present watching from a distance. These birds poked along in gravelly areas sometimes with some grass mixed in to picking things up to eat. They eat so fast it is hard to see most of the time of what they are eating. I noticed worms were a favorite and some kind of larva maybe were available today. It was a gloomy day, low winds and temps around 40 degrees. Images were taken on March 27, 2020.

A Killdeer preening…

Preening, straightening out those feathers…

Every last one of them…

Just looking pretty…

More preening…

Shaking off…

Grooming…

Something in the bill…

Black-bellied Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 27, 2018

By admin | September 27, 2018 - 6:23 pm |September 27, 2018 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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Birding the beach at Lakeshore State Park just after sunrise gave nice views of a Black-bellied Plover. I would call this a juvenile bird. It fed back and forth along the beach area finding things to eat. It was the highlight of the day there. It was a beautiful morning, quite chilly to start, with plenty of sun and light winds. Images were taken on September 27, 2018.

Black-bellied Plover with something in the bill to eat…

Going for something to eat…

Something to eat in the bill…

A closeup…

Making a quick stop to eat something…

Looking into the water for food…

Always looking for food…

Getting something here…

Along the waters edge in search of food…

Closeup…

Going for something…

Into the gravel for food…

Eating…

Walking to the north along the beach…

Bathing…

Being still…

Bathing…

Bathing…

Start of a stretch…

Stretching…

The stretch!

Piping Plovers at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on August 29, 2018

By admin | August 29, 2018 - 3:22 pm |August 30, 2018 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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With rain falling on my way to the Milwaukee lakefront I was expecting a quiet day birding. Halfway in I received a text from Mike W that a couple of the rare Piping Plovers were present at Bradford Beach. When I arrived at the beach they were still hanging around but for the most part rested while I was present. With lots of heavy equipment moving about the beach area a few feet from the birds with the upcoming fest, not surprising the Piping Plovers did not stay in one place very long. Beautiful birds we only usually see once a year if that, considered rare here, it was nice to see them for once without leg bands. It was a light rainy morning to start, then just clouds, light winds from the north early, temps were a pleasant 66 degrees. Images were taken on August 29th and 30th, 2018.

Piping Plover

Binomial name: Charadrius melodus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 7.25” long, 19” wing span

Weight: 1.9 oz

Note: Normal breeding range Great Plains from Alberta, Canada south to Oklahoma, winters on Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico gravel and sand beaches. The research I have done states this bird is listed as Endangered in Wisconsin

Piping Plover

For the most part they rested in a small area and did little moving about…

Resting a lot…

Earlier on the beach…

Looking for things to eat early on…

Searching through algae and debris on the beach for things to eat…

Resting area…

Distant in flight…

Preening…

Preening…

Piping Plovers…

Over the water they go, Semipalmated Plover in front, Ruddy Turnstone 2nd, all Sanderlings last..

Coming towards me…

The look back…

The Piping Plover standing pretty…

Looking along the beach for something to eat on 8-30…

Something in the bill…

The portrait…

Catches what looks like a fly?…

On the run…

Killdeer at the Lakefront in Milwaukee Wisconsin on March 4, 2018

By admin | March 5, 2018 - 6:42 am |March 5, 2018 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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Doing some birding along the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning I came across my FOY Killdeer. Always nice to see these as it seems like winter is behind us. Usually I hear the distinct call from this species before I seeing it, today I saw the bird first. This bird stayed in one small area and did some calling which is typical. A beautiful morning out with temps starting at about 32F, mostly sunny skies with low winds. Images were taken on March 4, 2018.

Killdeer

Binomial name: Charadrius vociferus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 3.3 oz

Calling

The closeup…

Lapland Longspur at McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on October 10, 2017

By admin | October 10, 2017 - 2:02 pm |October 19, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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A stop at McKinley Beach this morning in Milwaukee provided nice views of a Lapland Longspur. It seemed to be hanging with a couple of Killdeer. It continually fed in a short grass near the beach area eating seeds and then moved to a parking area. That is where the Killdeer went and so did it. The Killdeer just acted like it was a bitter cold day and did nothing, just stood there. The Lapland Longspur fed still eating seeds along cracks in the parking area and where weeds grown in cracks that held presumably a seed bank. A nice surprise to see this bird this morning but then we do see them this time of year along the lake, just once in awhile. No other unusual birds to note this morning along that part of the lakefront. A cold morning out with stiff winds from the northwest, very little sun with temps around 50. Interesting, first saw them last year at Lakeshore State Park on October 15. FOF winter hat, winter coat along with a scarf! Images were taken on October 10, 2017.

Finding seeds to eat along weed filled cracks in the parking area…

Lapland Longspur

Binomial name: Calcarius lapponicus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 6.25” long, 11.5” wing span

Weight: 0.95 oz

Cool facts: This common bird breeds in the Arctic tundra, and winters in open fields across most of the United States and southern Canada.

Finding weed seeds…

Finding more weed seeds…

Finding seeds in the grass to eat…

Finding seeds…

To the ground for seeds…

In the short grass area…

Black-bellied Plover at Lakeshore State Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin on September 15, 2017

By admin | September 15, 2017 - 4:02 pm |October 19, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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Heading down to the lakefront in Milwaukee this morning my first stop was Lakeshore State Park. A Black-bellied Plover, juvenile was present at the beach area. The Black-bellied Plover fed back and forth on the beach. Also present was the first Northern Shoveler for the fall at the park. It was a female generally hanging out with some Mallards. McKinley Beach had one lone Killdeer. I decided it was time to make a check at the “Magic Hedge”, about 15 Palm Warblers were present feeding along the fence to the north. A nice morning to be out with light overcast skies, light breeze and warm temps doing a little birding. Images were taken on Septemeber 15, 2017.

Coming in for a landing at the beach area

Black-bellied Plover

Binomial name: Pluvialis squatarola

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 11.5” long, 29” wing span

Weight: 8 Oz.

Habitat: Breeding habitat is lowlands on dry Arctic tundra. They spend their winters on beaches and estuarine mudflats. They sometimes are found in flooded fields, agricultural lands, meadows near coasts or inland waters.

Diet: On their breeding grounds, main food source is insects. Their wintering habitat provides worms, bivalves and crustaceans.

Nesting: They prefer a raised area for nesting for good visibility. Nest is a shallow depression made by the male and finished by the female as her job is lining it with pebbles, grass, twigs, lichens and moss. 3-4 eggs are usually laid, one brood per season, both parents incubate them. Within 12 hours, the chicks are usually able to forage and both parents care for them.

Walking the beach and feeding along the way…

Getting a drink…

Feeding…

With all the gnats…and a feather along side…

Something to eat in the bill

Something to eat…

Something to eat…

A little stretch here…

With something to eat here…

Coming at me…

The profile

The catch…

The looking back shot…

Constantly moving and feeding along the beach…

Incoming..

Piping Plover at the McKinley Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 23, 2017

By admin | May 24, 2017 - 8:46 am |May 24, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

Piping Plover

Binomial name: Charadrius melodus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 7.25” long, 19” wing span

Weight: 1.9 oz

Note: The research I have done states this bird is listed as Endangered in Wisconsin

The colored leg bands…

Got something here to eat…

Killdeer in Milwaukee County Wisconsin on March 10, 2017

By admin | March 10, 2017 - 6:31 pm |March 10, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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I came across some Killdeer today drinking water out of a half frozen puddle in Milwaukee County. Temperatures remained below freezing all day but the Killdeer still found some open water. Watching them in a short grass field they also appeared to find food today, a good thing! A cold and windy day today with some sun, the high for the day was 26 degrees. Images were taken on March 10, 2017.

Killdeer in the South Kettle Moraine in Waukesha County Wisconsin on February 22, 2017

By admin | February 22, 2017 - 5:14 pm |February 22, 2017 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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Doing some birding in Waukesha County today I came across 3 Killdeer. They appeared to be finding something to eat in the short grasses. They also did some calling and that is what got my attention to start with. Their visit was short lived after one spent a couple minutes at some water, they left the area and I did not see them around after that. Must be just be moving on through. Images were taken on February 22, 2017.

On the move!

Killdeer

Binomial name: Charadrius vociferus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 3.3 oz

Killdeer Chicks with Adults in Wisconsin on May 18, 2016

By admin | May 19, 2016 - 9:36 am |May 19, 2016 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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I came across some Killdeer chicks this morning with the adults near by. These are hardly chicks anymore as they are growing fast.

Chick

Killdeer

Binomial name: Charadrius vociferus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 3.3 oz

Chick

Chick

Chick, getting a bug

Adult

Chick, just had a bug

Adult

Chick with the itch

Chick getting a bug

Chick, the call

Chick

Killdeer at the Lake Express in Milwaukee Wisconsin on March 17, 2015

By admin | March 17, 2015 - 6:13 pm |March 17, 2015 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

2 Comments

I birded the Milwaukee lakefront late morning and it was pretty quiet. The highlight was my FOY Killdeer at the Lake Express. There were 2 present late morning. This is a typical place to find them in spring. The open water had some ducks in some places but they were still the common species that have been recently reported. 1-White-winged Scoter was far out at the lighthouse. I stopped at Bradford Beach, it had a few of the Scaups and Ring-billed Gulls. What surprised me was the ~8 foot wall of ice that went the length of the beach that was there last week was just about gone from the recent warmup and wave action. It is ready for shorebirds, an algae mat would be a plus. Images were taken on March 17, 2015.

Killdeer

Binomial name: Charadrius vociferus

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 10.5” long, 24” wing span

Weight: 3.3 oz

For a few moments this one appeared to be working on a scrap for a possible nest site?

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Killdeer young at Lake Express in Milwaukee Wisconsin on May 1, 2012

Partial display of the “broken wing distraction” to keep the unwanted away from the nest or nest area.

Black-bellied Plovers at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin September 27, 2014

By admin | September 27, 2014 - 6:00 pm |October 12, 2014 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

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I got a late start this morning getting into Bradford Beach but I did not miss the 3 Juvenile Black-bellied Plovers that were present. They were continually feeding long the shoreline for most of the beach area but moving around often as they were being flushed by joggers and dog walkers. Also present were 4 Semipalmated Plovers and 7 Sanderlings. Some nice algae along the beach, hopefully it will continue some to keep shorebirds to continue stopping. This beach has been amazing! Beautiful morning to be out birding. Images were taken on September 27, 2014.

Black-bellied Plover

Binomial name: Pluvialis squatarola

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 11.5” long, 29” wing span

Weight: 8 Oz.

Diet: On their breeding grounds, main food source is insects. Their wintering habitat provides worms, bivalves and crustaceans.

The big black spot under the wing indicates it is a Black-bellied Plover and not a American Golden-Plover.

American Golden-Plovers at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee Wisconsin September 24, 2014

By admin | September 24, 2014 - 10:16 am |October 12, 2014 Bird Categories, Lapwings and Plovers

American Golden-Plover

Binomial name: Pluvialis dominica

Category: Lapwings and Plovers

Size: 10.5” long, 26” wing span

Weight: 5 Oz.

Habitat: Breeding grounds are the Arctic tundra in northern Canada and Alaska. It prefers short vegetation on rocky slopes. This bird winters in central and south America on grasslands. During migration it stops at prairies, tilled farmlands, airports, pastures, mudflats, shorelines, golf courses and beaches.

Diet: Insects, crustaceans, snails, seeds and sometimes berries.

Nesting: Nest is a shallow bowl on the ground. The bowl can be lined with lichen, also leaves and grasses can be used. The eggs are incubated by the adults, males during the day, females at night lasting about 26 days. Both adults also defend the nesting site and care for the young chicks. The young chicks are lead to the forging areas and within a few hours after hatching start to find food on their own.

Cool fact: This birds migratory journey is one of the longest of any shorebird.