Within the U.S. the
piping plover is found along the Atlantic coast from New York to Florida. They are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, and they are considered endangered. The piping plover uses (like most birds) a courtship dance to attract a mate for copulation. Courtship displays are varied. In one such display, the male will often initiate a 'tatoo' dance, in which he stands very erect, puffs out his chest, and rapidly and repeatedly beats the ground with his feet. Still dancing, he approaches the female until they are touching, ruffling her feathers with the rythmic pounding of his feet. If the female does not back away, the male will then mount her and copulation occurs.
Piping plover chicks, a very tiny fluffy ball of fur, are able to walk, run, and feed by themselves within hours of hatching.
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animaldiversity.org
