Piping Plover. Photo by Kanae Hirabayashi. (click to see the larger version.)

An unbanded male Piping Plover was at the east end of Montrose Beach on April 30 and May 1. Piping Plovers are rare but regular visitors to the beach in spring and late summer. We know the bird is a male because of the blackish breast and forehead bands. These bands are brownish on females. Piping Plover is an endangered species in Illinois and the rest of the United States.