An over-wintering species in Portugal but one that is also seen on migration from other venues in Africa, Grey Plovers can be found on many estuaries and mud flats near the coast where they stand upright and still before walking quickly forward to grab food. Males in summer plumage are striking with solid black cheek, neck, bib and belly contrasting strongly with black and white mottling on the back and upper surface of the wings. Their winter plumage is much more cryptic and dull, but they still retain their black axillaries which show up well in flight.
