Habitat

• Plovers are found all over the world, except in regions that are constantly frozen. Some species even live in the tundra. These birds will hunt along the shore of nearly any body of water, from oceans to lakes, rivers and marshes. Extreme northern and southern populations tend to migrate to warmer areas in the winter, while plovers in more temperate areas use the same habitats year-round.
  
  

Food Types

• The plover diet is made up primarily of invertebrates, including small crustaceans, worms, adult insects and their larvae, and mollusks. Some plovers also eat berries. According to the Wilson Ornithological Society Bulletin, signs of snails and small amphibians have been found in the droppings of the piping plover. A few plovers have been observed hunting for fish in shallow water.
  
  

Surface vs. Buried

• Plovers feed primarily on surface-dwelling creatures, since prey buried in the ground are much less visible. On occasion, however, plovers can cause buried invertebrates to come to the surface. According to the the Wilson Ornithological Society Bulletin, these birds tap their feet on the ground to scare buried insects and other animals out of hiding, then pluck them off the surface of the ground.
  
  

Hunting

• These birds are notable for their distinctive hunting behavior. Plovers tend to walk along the water's edge looking for signs of prey. They may stop and stand for short periods of time, then suddenly run forward to grab an insect or other small animal. This "run-and-pause" technique makes them easy to separate from other wading birds, which tend to probe with their beaks.
  
  

Migration

• Plovers build up high levels of subcutaneous body fat before migrating, and travel in flocks of thousands. After migration, their diet is often very different from their pre-migration choices. According to JSTOR's archive of The Condor, post-migration plovers often choose immature prey, such as insect larvae, which are more digestible than adults. In general, though, these birds are opportunists, and will eat whatever is most readily available in their new home.