Black-bellied Plovers mostly pass through Alaska: the first show up in the second week of April, they are common by mid April, peak in early May (5.4% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May.
When to look
First arrivalsApr 8-14the second week of April
Common byApr 15-21mid April
PeakMay 1-7early May
Most gone byMay 15-21mid May
Best: early May. First arrivals the second week of April; most are gone by mid May. Peak: on about 5.4% of Alaska checklists.
Jannot usually seen
Febnot usually seen
Marnot usually seen
Aprpeak season
Maypeak season
Jununcommon
Julrare
Augrare
Seprare
Octrare
Novnot usually seen
Decnot usually seen
Darker months: more checklists report it. Outlined: peak month.
Share of complete checklists reporting it, by week (4 per month). Grey bars: fewer than 10 checklists, not counted.
Frequency is the share of complete checklists in Alaska that listed the bird, 2016–2025. It is not a head count, and it follows where and when people go birding. How to read it.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
today
0%few checklistsno data
Each county is shaded by the share of complete checklists there that listed the bird, blended with the weeks either side. Darker is more often. It follows where people watch birds, not how many birds there are. How to read it.
Mud Bay (Beluga Lake)Kenai Peninsula Borough, best late April · 46 checklists that week, 756 in all68%
Gustavus Flats FeeHoonah-Angoon Census Area, best the second week of May · 21 checklists that week, 240 in all67%
Anchor RiverKenai Peninsula Borough, best the second week of May · 30 checklists that week, 293 in all63%
Kasilof RiverKenai Peninsula Borough, best early May · 56 checklists that week, 929 in all63%
Eagle RiverJuneau City and Borough, best the second week of May · 78 checklists that week, 1,420 in all62%
Busy spots report more of everything; compare the checklist counts before you drive anywhere.
Best time of day
In Alaska, the Black-bellied Plover is most often listed on checklists started between 7 and 9 pm (2.1% of those checklists).
Share of checklists started in each local hour that reported it. It reflects when people go birding as well as when birds are active. Grey hours have too few checklists (under 2% of the state’s, or under 200) to judge.Week-by-week table
Month
Days 1-7
8-14
15-21
22-end
January
0%
0%
0%
0%
February
0%
0%
0%
0.1%
March
0%
0%
0.1%
0.1%
April
0.1%
0.5%
2.5%
4.2%
May
7.1%
4.8%
3.3%
2.1%
June
0.8%
0.7%
0.4%
0.5%
July
0.5%
0.7%
1.0%
0.6%
August
0.8%
0.4%
0.7%
0.7%
September
0.5%
0.3%
0.5%
0.5%
October
0.5%
0.7%
0.4%
0.1%
November
0.1%
0%
0%
0%
December
0%
0%
0.1%
0%
Neighboring states
Washington: arrives mid July, 13 weeks later than Alaska
Oregon: arrives mid July, 13 weeks later than Alaska
California: arrives early July, 11 weeks later than Alaska
North Dakota: arrives late July, 14 weeks later than Alaska
Common questions
When do Black-bellied Plovers arrive in Alaska?
Black-bellied Plovers mostly pass through Alaska: the first show up in the second week of April, they are common by mid April, peak in early May (5.4% of checklists), and most are gone by mid May.
When do Black-bellied Plovers leave Alaska?
Most Black-bellied Plovers have left Alaska by mid May, when reports fall below half their usual rate. Stragglers are still reported until early June.
When is the best time to see a Black-bellied Plover in Alaska?
The Black-bellied Plover is reported most often in early May, on about 5.4% of Alaska checklists.
Where in Alaska are Black-bellied Plovers seen most often?
By county, Bristol Bay Borough, Kusilvak Census Area, and Kenai Peninsula Borough have the highest peak reporting rates for the Black-bellied Plover (counties with at least 200 checklists).
