The birds will sometimes lower their head and charge with their mouth open into a group of adult flies on the ground while snapping their bill. The bill snaps about two to three times to crush the captured flies before swallowing them. This charging method is also used to capture isolated insects on California beaches. Another behavior sometimes used before feeding is to tremble one foot in shallow water or on a wet substrate. Reproduction In western North America, Snowy Plovers are facultatively polyandrous.
Most Snowy Plovers breed in the first nesting season after hatching.
Depending on season and location, this varies anywhere between 260-360 days after hatching. Males solicit females from their territories by calling and standing. The male then runs to a spot in the nest and begins scraping. The female begins scraping as the male steps out, and she settles into the nest. The male bows next to the female several times with his head pointed to the ground.