Nature Photographers Ltd

Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola L 28cm. Plump-bodied coastal wader. Best known in winter plumage but breeding plumage sometimes seen in newly-arrived, or shortly-to-depart, migrants. In flight, note black ‘armpits’ on otherwise white underwings. Typically solitary. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter looks overall grey but upperparts are spangled with black and white and underparts are whitish. Legs and bill are dark. In summer plumage, has striking black underparts (sometimes rather mottled in females) separated from spangled grey upperparts by broad white band. Juvenile resembles winter adult but has buff wash to plumage. Voice Utters diagnostic, trisyllabic pee-oo-ee call, like a human wolf-whistle. Status Nests in high Arctic; coastal, non-breeding visitor to Britain and Ireland.