Plovers are closely related to the sandpipers.  They differ in that they are generally more compact with shorter legs and necks, and larger eyes   Their pigeon-like bills differ from the pointed  straight or curved bills typical of the sandpipers.  Unlike the sandpipers, they tend to run in short stops and starts.  Included with the plovers is the sandpiper-like Ruddy Turnstone.  For want of a better place to put it, the chisel-billed Oystercatcher is also included on this page.
 

The Ruddy Turnstone carving shown above is a very fine one.  Besides the very careful andbeautiful painting, using just the right tones, patternand fine touches, you will notice the very accurate relief carving, including the very fine raised wings.  The best aspect, however, is less tangible, the carving's attitude.  The perfect proportions, the stance, the relationship of the head to the body, the balance and  the very correct bill all these make this a very special carving of  this species.  In fact, anyone who knows this bird well would have recognized it as a Turnstone even in its unpainted state.  The price of a similar carving  is $375 (with legs, below).  The client
in this case requested no legs because as a long-time collector of Matt's work she began with birds on posts and wants to keep it that way.

The Black-Bellied Plover shown here is quite stylized in the painting and has very little relief carving. It is, however, very correct in form and attitude.  It is $200.

The Golden Plover resembles the Black-Bellied Plover, but in its summer plumage (upper right photo) it's black all the way to the tail, and it is slightly smaller and daintier than the latter.  The winter plumage (remaining 3 photos) is less colorful.  Notice that the bill is finer too, but not as fine as the eastern species.  Check these subtleties  when considering how good a carver is.  The one shown below is the Pacific Golden Plover, known in Hawaii as the Kolea (it is now residing in that state).  The Kolea has only recently been identified as a different species from the Golden Plover of the East Coast of North America.  These carvings are very demanding to paint well and can be done in this style for $400 each.
                                  Summer Plumage                                                                            Winter Plumage

The Killdeer (above) is a large plover that is often found in fileds, on lawns and sandy waste places, unlike other Amnerican plovers.  It's easily identiofied by its size and the two dark bands on its breast.  This was carved for the Museum of the Adirondacks.
 
 

The oystercatcher shown here is the American Oystercatcher, found along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.  The Black Oystercatcher is a slightly smaller species found on the Pacific Coast.  Both have laterally flattened bills which assists them in their diets of bivalves, such as clams and oysters.  A carving of this quality (over afoot long) is $325. Add $30 for legs (if they are available - otherwise Matt will have to make them at a greater cost).