Identify This Mystery Shorebird

Is it not one of those semipalmate plover thingys?

Except it's in Texas, where they do nothing by halves..

Looks a bit like a killdeer -- which isn't a shorebird -- but it doesn't have the black breast patch.

Isn't it a Ring-necked Plover?

I just got back from birding in Queens, NYC. If its not a semipalmated plover I've mis-identified the two birds I saw today.

Can't see the markings on its "face" too well, but since the beak looks dark and large, I guess Wilson's plover.

okay, there are some correct answers and some incorrect answers. shall i let a few more people guess or shall i just tell you what this bird's ID is?

I believe that's George...

Let more peeps guess - Darren Naish tortures readers for ages with these identification posts. It builds character. ;-)

I'd vote semipalmated. Wilson's beak is longer and all dark (I see some orange here), and the legs should be "caucasian-flesh"-colored (these are yellow). Also I believe Bolivar Flats is too far north for Wilson's. Not that I've seen either of these personally :-)

FYI, killdeer count as shorebirds even though they live away from the shore, all in one happy family with other plovers.

I've seen the occasional Wilson's Plover at Bolivar Flats, but I can certainly see your point about the smidge of orange on the beak, and the leg color, Cyndy. Especially now that I'm home on my MacBook Pro.

The size of the beak seems a tough call to me, because of the angle, but it's diagnostic in the field, so to speak.

It's a seriosuly anorexic penguin....

this is a semipalmated plover.