Piping Plover Chick
Charadrius melodus (chick)
Newly hatched chicks leave the nest scrape within hours and follow their parents across open sand, gravel, and sparse beach vegetation. They feed themselves by picking tiny insects and other small invertebrates from the ground while adults guard nearby. Their pale down is excellent camouflage among shells and dry sand, and freezing in place is one of their main defenses. A chick cannot fly yet, so quick dashes and hiding are more important than fighting.
- Type
- Stealth
- Conservation status
- NT
Growth chain
- Piping Plover Chick
- Piping Plover Fledgling
- Piping Plover