Birds In Alaska Waders & Shorebirds: Semipalmated Plover Chadrius semipalmatus Semipalmated Plovers are a great little shorebird for beginning bird watchers in the interior of Alaska. (In western and northwest Alaska watch for rusty-red chests of the Mongolian Plover!) The black and white face with a single, black necklace, and brown-gray back are reliable field marks. Patterns do vary somewhat from bird to bird. Notice the different necklace and forehead patterning on the two birds below. They both ran by, both pausing to look at me sitting on the bank as I took their pictures. Semipalmated Plovers run swiftly, with their back flat and straighten up when they stop. Back to: Top | Birds In Alaska | Mr. G's classroom site