Wilson's Plover on Alert - North Carolina Coast

A Wilson's Plover, Charadrius wilsonia, goes on alert, standing in an erect position. Easily confused with the Piping Plover, these medium sized plovers have a larger head and heavier bill. All of the variants living on the US east coast, except for Florida, winter in Brazil. Those living in Florida and Mexico do not migrate south. These birds are foragers that feed on crabs, marine worms and insect they find on the beach.

This photo was made on the Rachel Carson Estuarine Reserve, Beaufort North Carolina. This sandy area known as Bird Shoal is attached to Carrot Island. The reserve is host to a large number of breeding and migratory birds every year.