Piping plover (bird)

The piping plover is a small, slender shorebird with a sandy-colored appearance that helps it blend into beach environments. Typically measuring about 7-8 inches, it feeds mainly on small invertebrates found in the sand and lives along the coastlines and sandy beaches. Piping plovers are known for their delicate, high-pitched calls and their quick, timid movements along the shore. They breed in North America and prefer remote, open beaches where they nest directly on the sand, often using minimal nesting material. Due to habitat loss and human disturbance, the piping plover is considered threatened and is protected by conservation efforts.