Pick Up Some Information on the Mountain Plover

The Mountain Plover is a small bird native to the Western Great Plains. These birds are considered to be “endemic” to the area, since they’re not found anywhere else. They’re one of the 12 species considered endemic to this habitat, joined by birds such as the Greater Sage Grouse. The territory of the Western Great Plains spreads from Canada down through Mexico. The Mountain Plover congregates around the Rockies and the Great Plains and then spends the winters in California, Arizona, Texas, and Mexico. While these birds have a wide range, they are not nearly as abundant as they once were.

Appearance

The Mountain Plover is a fairly small bird when compared to other Great Plains birds, such as grouse. Mountain Plovers are roughly the size of a robin, making it easier for them to find cover in the Great Plains. Mountain Plovers are mostly pale brown in color, with a white face and belly, and black markings near their beak and the top of their head. Thanks to this natural camouflage, it’s easier for Mountain Plovers to blend into the ground and brown vegetation of the Great Plains.

Lifestyle

When looking for a place to nest, Mountain Plovers will only choose areas with sparse vegetation or bare ground, preferring to nest near prairie dog towns. Mountain Plovers have also attained the nickname of “Prairie Ghosts” due to how still and elusive they can be when disturbed in the wild. Mountain Plovers feed almost exclusively on insects.

Unlike many other types of birds, Mountain Plovers lay multiple clutches of eggs during the breeding season. The first clutch will be incubated by the male, while the female incubates the second clutch. This method of tending to nests and hatching chicks makes it likely that more chicks will survive.

Threats & current status

As farmland has taken over a fair amount of the Great Plains, Mountain Plovers have lost their natural habitat. Mountain Plovers have also suffered as the prairie dog populations decreased, because prairie dog towns often provide ideal nesting areas for these birds. The way Mountain Plovers rely on prairie dogs for cover shows how interconnected so many aspects of nature are. While these birds and prairie dogs do not interact much directly, prairie dog dens and populations are vital for a thriving Mountain Plover population.

While Mountain Plovers are currently labeled as “Near Threatened,” it’s important to stay vigilant and ensure that their population remains stable. One of the ways we can achieve this goal is by also working to stabilize the prairie dog population, which provides cover for Mountain Plovers. You can also help out these birds by raising awareness or donating to conservation causes.