How do ringed plovers catch their prey?

How do ringed plovers catch their prey?

• A. By Diving Underwater
• B. By Running on Loose Sand and Mud to Draw Prey to the Surface
• C. By Pulling Prey From Water With Long Beaks
• D. By Scavenging Carrion

Answer: (B)

This question tests how shorebirds forage on tidal flats. Ringed plovers feed on small invertebrates living in the upper sand and mud, using speed and surface foraging. They run quickly across loose sand and mud, which stirs up the substrate and causes prey to move toward the surface. When the prey emerges or becomes easier to reach, the plover plucks it off with quick pecks. Their short beaks are well-suited for picking prey from the surface, not for diving underwater or long probing into deeper water. They don’t rely on scavenging carrion, but on active, live prey found in the surface layer. That makes running on loose sand and mud to draw prey to the surface the best description of their method.