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Piping Plover

Charadrius melodus

Bird · family Charadriidae · order Charadriiformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G3: vulnerable[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Endangered (some populations)[1]
NatureServe global rank
G3 Vulnerable[2]
Native in
37 states[3]
Oldest known wild bird
17 years[4]

The Piping Plover is a bird in the family Charadriidae[5]. It is listed under the US Endangered Species Act, as Endangered in some places and Threatened in others[1][6].

Conservation status

Federal law lists the Piping Plover in two ways. The group in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin is listed as Endangered[1]. Everywhere else it is found, it is listed as Threatened[6]. NatureServe ranks it G3, which means Vulnerable worldwide[2]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Near threatened[7]. It is also on the federal list of birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Endangered, listed December 11, 1985 ([Great Lakes watershed DPS] - Great Lakes, watershed in States of IL, IN, MI, MN, NY, OH, )
Endangered Species Act[6] Threatened, listed December 11, 1985 ([Atlantic Coast and Northern Great Plains populations] - Wherever found, except those area)
NatureServe global rank[2] G3 (Vulnerable)
NatureServe US rank[9] N3B,N3N (Vulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding))
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Near threatened
Migratory Bird Treaty Act[8] Protected
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[10] 2500 to 10,000 individuals

Where Piping Plover lives

NatureServe lists the Piping Plover as native in 37 US states and territories[3]. These include Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, New York and New Jersey, and also inland states such as Montana, Nebraska and Wisconsin[3]. NatureServe ranks it as extirpated or possibly extirpated in Indiana, which means it may be gone from there[11].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: native, state rank S2BMEWisconsin: native, state rank S1BWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: native, state rank S1BNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: native, state rank S2BMTNorth Dakota: native, state rank S1NDMinnesota: native, state rank S1BMNIllinois: native, state rank S1ILMichigan: native, state rank S2MINew York: native, state rank S3BNYMassachusetts: native, state rank S2BMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: native, state rank SNAWYSouth Dakota: native, state rank S3BSDIowa: native, state rank S1BIAIndiana: extirpated or possibly extirpated, state rank SXBINOhio: native, state rank S1OHPennsylvania: native, state rank S1B,S1MPANew Jersey: native, state rank S1B,S1NNJConnecticut: native, state rank S1BCTRhode Island: native, state rank S1B,S1NRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: native, state rank S1BCONebraska: native, state rank S2NEMissouri: native, state rank SNAMOKentucky: native, state rank SNAKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: native, state rank S2B,S1NVAMaryland: native, state rank S1BMDDelaware: native, state rank S1B,S1NDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: native, state rank S1B,S2NKSArkansas: native, state rank S1MARTennessee: native, state rank S2NTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S1B,S1NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank S2NSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: native, state rank SNROKLouisiana: native, state rank S2NLAMississippi: native, state rank S2NMSAlabama: native, state rank S1NALGeorgia: native, state rank S2GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S2NTXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[12].
Show state ranks (38 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
ArkansasS1MCritically Imperiled (migrant)
ColoradoS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
ConnecticutS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
DelawareS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
FloridaS2Imperiled
GeorgiaS2Imperiled
IllinoisS1Critically Imperiled
IndianaSXBPresumed Extirpated (breeding)
IowaS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
KansasS1B,S2NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Imperiled (nonbreeding)
KentuckySNANot Applicable
LouisianaS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
MaineS2BImperiled (breeding)
MarylandS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
MassachusettsS2BImperiled (breeding)
MichiganS2Imperiled
MinnesotaS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
MississippiS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
MissouriSNANot Applicable
MontanaS2BImperiled (breeding)
NebraskaS2Imperiled
New HampshireS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
New JerseyS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
New YorkS3BVulnerable (breeding)
North CarolinaS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
North DakotaS1Critically Imperiled
OhioS1Critically Imperiled
OklahomaSNRNot Ranked
PennsylvaniaS1B,S1MCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (migrant)
Rhode IslandS1B,S1NCritically Imperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
South DakotaS3BVulnerable (breeding)
TennesseeS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
TexasS2NImperiled (nonbreeding)
VirginiaS2B,S1NImperiled (breeding), Critically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
WisconsinS1BCritically Imperiled (breeding)
WyomingSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records three habitat types for this bird: sand and dunes, riparian (along fresh water) and tidal flats or shores[13]. For breeding, it uses sandy upper beaches and sparsely vegetated shores of shallow fresh water[14]. On the Atlantic Coast it nests mainly on gently sloping dunes behind the main dune line[14].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[13]

Size, diet and lifespan

The Piping Plover eats small invertebrates, such as worms, beetles, crustaceans and mollusks[15]. EltonTraits estimates its diet at 100% invertebrates[16]. An adult is typically 18 cm (7 in) long[17] and weighs about 55 g[18]. The longest recorded lifespan in the wild in AnAge is 14 years[19]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 17 years 4 months old[4]. A typical clutch size is 4 and incubation takes 28 days[20][21].

Trait Value
Typical length[17] 18 cm (7 in)
Typical adult weight[18] 55 g (1.9 oz)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[19] 14 years (wild)
Oldest known wild bird (banding)[4] 17 years 4 months
Litter or clutch size[20] 4
Gestation or incubation[21] 28 days
Female maturity[22] 365 days (about 1.0 years)
Food habits[23] Invertivore
Migration[24] long-distance migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[16]

  • 100% invertebrates

When to look for it

NatureServe calls the Piping Plover a long-distance migrant, though populations can differ[24]. Observation records on GBIF are highest in May, July and August[25]. These records show when people look and report the bird, not how many birds there are[25].

January: 10,387 recordsJanFebruary: 7,652 recordsFebMarch: 16,054 recordsMarApril: 34,137 recordsAprMay: 42,282 recordsMayJune: 31,783 recordsJunJuly: 37,633 recordsJulAugust: 34,833 recordsAugSeptember: 16,632 recordsSepOctober: 11,910 recordsOctNovember: 10,633 recordsNovDecember: 9,077 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[25].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January10,387
February7,652
March16,054
April34,137
May42,282
June31,783
July37,633
August34,833
September16,632
October11,910
November10,633
December9,077

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey[26]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the Piping Plover endangered?
It is listed as Endangered in the Great Lakes states and as Threatened elsewhere under the US Endangered Species Act[1][6]. NatureServe ranks it Vulnerable worldwide[2].
Where does the Piping Plover live?
NatureServe lists it as native in 37 US states and territories, from coastal states like Florida and Massachusetts to inland states like Montana and Nebraska[3].
What does the Piping Plover eat?
It eats small invertebrates, such as worms, beetles, crustaceans and mollusks[15].
How big is a Piping Plover?
A typical adult is 18 cm (7 in) long[17] and weighs about 55 g[18].
How long does a Piping Plover live?
The longest recorded lifespan in the wild in AnAge is 14 years[19]. The oldest known wild bird in banding records was at least 17 years 4 months old[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Piping Plover has the status Endangered, listed December 11, 1985 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: [Great Lakes watershed DPS] - Great Lakes, watershed in States of IL, IN, MI, MN, NY, OH, PA, and WI and Canada (Ont.).... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Piping Plover: G3 (Vulnerable). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists Piping Plover as native in 37 US states and territories: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,... NatureServe Explorer
  4. Oldest known wild Piping Plover from US and Canadian bird banding records: at least 17 years 4 months old (USGS Bird Banding Laboratory). USGS Bird Banding Lab
  5. Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a bird in the family Charadriidae, order Charadriiformes. NatureServe Explorer
  6. Under the US Endangered Species Act, Piping Plover has the status Threatened, listed December 11, 1985 (USFWS ECOS). Listed entity: [Atlantic Coast and Northern Great Plains populations] - Wherever found, except those areas where listed as endangered..... USFWS ECOS
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Near threatened. NatureServe Explorer
  8. Piping Plover is on the federal list of migratory birds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (50 CFR 10.13). eCFR, 50 CFR 10.13
  9. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N3B,N3N (Vulnerable (breeding), Vulnerable (nonbreeding)). NatureServe Explorer
  10. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 2500 to 10,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  11. NatureServe ranks Piping Plover as extirpated or possibly extirpated (SX or SH) in: Indiana. NatureServe Explorer
  12. NatureServe state ranks for Piping Plover (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  13. Habitat types NatureServe records for Piping Plover: Sand/dune, Riparian, Tidal flat/shore. NatureServe Explorer
  14. NatureServe notes on habitat for Piping Plover. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for Piping Plover. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% invertebrates. EltonTraits 1.0
  17. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 18 cm (7 in). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 55 g (1.9 oz). NatureServe Explorer
  19. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 14 years in the wild. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  20. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 4. AnAge
  21. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 28 days. AnAge
  22. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 365 days (about 1.0 years). AnAge
  23. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Invertivore. NatureServe Explorer
  24. NatureServe migration category for Piping Plover: long-distance migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  25. GBIF observation records of Piping Plover in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF
  26. US states with the most GBIF observation records of Piping Plover: Massachusetts, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.