Black-bellied Plover

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Black-bellied Plover in London?

Rare. Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-bellied Plover sighting in London on a given day, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 172nd most-seen of the 203 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Black-bellied Plover in London?

Any time of year. In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-bellied Plover in London on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Black-bellied Plover?

Between 10 am and 1 pm. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-bellied Plover sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is London the best place to see a Black-bellied Plover?

71st of 75. Of the 75 cities where we can rate Black-bellied Plover sightings, London ranks 71st at under 5%. The best odds are in Zanzibar City (Tanzania, about 40%), Kuwait City (Kuwait, about 30%) and Maputo (Mozambique, about 20%).

Q: Where does the Black-bellied Plover sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Black-bellied Plover is recorded against all the birds logged in London (22 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Pluvialis squatarola

Silhouette: Emily Willoughby · PhyloPic

LCNTVUVulnerableENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderCharadriiformes (Shorebirds and Allies)
FamilyCharadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
GenusPluvialis (Golden Plovers and Grey Plover)
SpeciesPluvialis squatarola (Black-bellied Plover)

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

at London

In 3 days <5%

22 Verified sightings at London

16,436 In all 64 parks From 2019 to 2026

March Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Black-bellied Plover

The grey plover or black-bellied plover (Pluvialis squatarola) is a large plover breeding in Arctic regions. It is a long-distance migrant, with a nearly worldwide coastal distribution when not breeding. The grey plover was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae under the binomial name Tringa squatarola. It is now placed with three other plovers in the genus Pluvialis that was introduced by the French ornithologist Mathurin Jacques Brisson in 1760. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that they flocked when rain was imminent. The species name squatarola is a Latinised version of Sgatarola, a Venetian name for some kind of plover.

The English common name used for this species differs in different parts of the world. It is generally known as "grey plover" in the Old World and "black-bellied plover" in the New World. Three subspecies are recognised: Wikipedia →

Sounds

Nocturnal flight call0:46

France · 2026

Call0:21

China · 2019

Flight call0:08

Sweden · 2021

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 4 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
2	West Coast National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~60%
3	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
4	Camargue	🇫🇷 France	~30%
5	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~30%
6	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
7	Wadden Sea National Park	🇩🇪 Germany	~20%
8	Rottnest Island	🇦🇺 Australia	~20%
9	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~20%
10	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
11	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
12	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
13	Bali Barat National Park	🇮🇩 Indonesia	~10%
14	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
15	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
16	Kiskunság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~10%
17	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
18	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	~10%
19	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
20	Hortobágy National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	~10%
21	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~10%
22	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
23	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
24	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
25	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	~10%
26	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
27	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~10%
28	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
29	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
30	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	<5%
31	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	<5%
32	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
33	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
34	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	<5%
35	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
36	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
37	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
38	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
39	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
40	Cape Range	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
41	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
42	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
43	Ningaloo Marine Park	🇦🇺 Australia	<5%
44	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
45	Fertő-Hanság National Park	🇭🇺 Hungary	<5%
46	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
47	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
48	De Hoop Nature Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%
49	Białowieża National Park	🇵🇱 Poland	<5%
50	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
51	Snowdonia National Park	🇬🇧 United Kingdom	<5%
52	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
53	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	<5%
54	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
55	Tangkoko Nature Reserve	🇮🇩 Indonesia	<5%
56	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
57	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
58	Sierra de Guadarrama National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	<5%
59	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
60	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
61	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	<5%
62	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
63	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
64	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Zanzibar City	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~40%
2	Kuwait City	🇰🇼 Kuwait	~30%
3	Maputo	🇲🇿 Mozambique	~20%
4	Manama	🇧🇭 Bahrain	~20%
5	Havana	🇨🇺 Cuba	~20%
6	Dar es-Salaam	🇹🇿 Tanzania	~20%
7	Panama City	🇵🇦 Panama	~20%
8	Casablanca	🇲🇦 Morocco	~20%
9	Rabat	🇲🇦 Morocco	~10%
10	Mombasa	🇰🇪 Kenya	~10%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Monterey Bay Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Seattle Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	Montreal Biodome	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
4	Seattle Marine Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Closest Relatives at London

Pluvialis apricaria

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Vanellus vanellus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Charadrius hiaticula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Larus argentatus

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

Larus fuscus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

Larus canus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Sterna hirundo

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Larus marinus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tringa ochropus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Actitis hypoleucos

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Gallinago gallinago

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black-bellied Plover in London?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-bellied Plover sighting in London on a given day, based on 22 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 172nd most-seen of the 203 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to under 5%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black-bellied Plover in London?

Any time of year

In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-bellied Plover in London on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.

What time of day is best to see a Black-bellied Plover?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-bellied Plover sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is London the best place to see a Black-bellied Plover?

71st of 75

Of the 75 cities where we can rate Black-bellied Plover sightings, London ranks 71st at under 5%. The best odds are in Zanzibar City (Tanzania, about 40%), Kuwait City (Kuwait, about 30%) and Maputo (Mozambique, about 20%).

Where does the Black-bellied Plover sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black-bellied Plover is recorded against all the birds logged in London (22 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to London

Black-bellied Plover

About the Black-bellied Plover

Sounds

Recent sightings of Black-bellied Plover in London

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at London

European Golden Plover

Northern Lapwing

Common Ringed Plover

Black-headed Gull

European Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Common Gull

Common Tern

Great Black-backed Gull

Green Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Common Snipe

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black-bellied Plover in London?

When is the best time to see a Black-bellied Plover in London?

What time of day is best to see a Black-bellied Plover?

Is London the best place to see a Black-bellied Plover?

Where does the Black-bellied Plover sighting chance come from?