Piping Plover courting and mating video

Thanks to Steve Spector for this video from a beach near Milford Point of a Piping Plover pair courting and mating April 5.




He describes it well:

Male performs symbolic nest scrape and produces nest-scraping call; male raises tail (tilt display) and female walks underneath; male performs goosestepping, including kicking female's flanks; male mounts and remains on female's back for 1 minute, 28 seconds, ending with copulation. Dismounts and nips female's neck. All behaviors part of standard Piping Plover courting, mating behavior.

Our thanks again to Steve for the remarkable and informative video.


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.