Snowy Plover: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Storks and Shorebirds · day 4 of 7

Five facts

1. Soon after the chicks hatch, female snowy plovers often leave to breed again, sometimes hundreds of km away. The male raises the chicks.
2. In coastal California, a snowy plover egg weighs about 8.5 g, 20 % of the female's weight. A clutch averages three eggs.
3. In California, males dig an average of 5.6 nest scrapes per territory, each in a few minutes. The pair picks just one for the eggs.
4. Snowy plovers are tiny beach racers: just 15 to 17 cm long, weighing only 40 to 43 g.
5. The female lays one egg every 47 to 118 hours. From laying to hatching takes 23 to 49 days, depending on place and season.

The quiz

1. What do female snowy plovers often do soon after their chicks hatch?

• Guard them alone
• Fly to the sea
• Leave them and mate again (correct)
• Build a second nest beside them

Females often leave soon after hatching to breed again, while the male raises the chicks.

2. What share of the female's body weight is one snowy plover egg?

• 20 % (correct)
• 2 %
• 50 %
• 1 %

One egg weighs about 8.5 g, which is 20 % of the female's body weight.

3. How many nest scrapes does a male snowy plover dig on average?

• 1
• 12
• 20
• 5.6 (correct)

Males dig an average of 5.6 scrapes per territory, and the pair picks only one.

4. How much does a snowy plover weigh?

• 400-430 g
• 40-43 g (correct)
• 4-5 kg
• 1-2 kg

Snowy plovers weigh only 40-43 g.

5. How long does snowy plover incubation last?

• 3-5 days
• 60-90 days
• 23-49 days (correct)
• 2-3 days

From laying to hatching takes 23 to 49 days, depending on place and season.

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