Mountain Plovers [Oreopholus]

Description

Oreopholus is a lesser-known genus within the plover family, distinguished by its preference for high-altitude habitats, unlike its coastal relatives. The Mountain Plover, the primary representative of this genus, is a medium-sized bird that breeds in mountainous areas and migrates to lower elevations during winter. Despite its name, it is often found in shortgrass prairies and flat, barren landscapes far from mountainous regions. Its behavior and ecology contrast sharply with those of other plovers, as it has adapted to a very different lifestyle.

Species

Taxonomy