The Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)

The Piping plover is a small shorebird between 5-6 inches in length, or roughly the size of a sparrow. They are named after the piping sound they make when calling.
 

Piping Plover - By  Mdf - CC BY-SA 3.0

 They are a very pale sandy-grey on their backs and their undersides are white. There is a brown or black band around their neck and a black tip on their tail.  Across their foreheads is a black, or brown bar and their faces are white. They have a small, stubby, orange beak with a black tip. Their legs and feet are yellowish orange.

 During winter the Piping plover changes appearance. Their legs turn a paler shade of yellowish orange and their beak turns black. Although males and females look similar the male is larger and during the breeding season their beaks become a brighter orange  Read more