Plovers (Charadriidae)
Species
Plovers are small to medium-sized shorebirds, marked by a rotund body, a rounded head on a short neck, and a short, stubby bill. They have long legs, and the characteristic hunting method consists of short, fast runs followed by stock-still freezes. They mostly have dark brown upper parts and white underparts. Many species are shorebirds, but some favour inland marshes and even damp grassland and dry fields.
 
There are 60 species worldwide. Seven species breed in Europe, one is a winter visitor and three are vagrants.
 
Species seen but not photographed:
  • Dotterel: Outer Hebrides (May 2019)
  • Masked Lapwing: New Zealand (November 2001)
  • Lesser Sand Plover: Portugal (April 2005)