Summary:

The Magellanic Plover is known for being a bit of an oddball. These shorebirds have a round body like a dove and even feed their young with milk produced in a part of their digestive system called the crop — a rare trait they share with doves. But genetic data revealed that Magellanic Plovers are neither plovers nor doves — they’re the only species in the family Pluvianellidae. Genetically speaking, they’re one of a kind.

Full episode:
Listen Daily:

BirdNote is sponsored locally by Chirp Nature Center and airs live everyday at 4 p.m. on KBHR 93.3 FM. See more BirdNote stories.

(Content courtesy of birdnote.org.)