plover

noun pl. plovers or plover

1. any of a worldwide family (Charadriidae) of shorebirds, having a short tail, long, pointed wings, a short, stout beak, and, usually, brown or gray feathers
2. any of various similar birds

Origin: ME < OFr plovier, lit., rain bird < VL *pluviarius < L pluvia, rain (see pluvial): said to be so named because it was believed to cry before a rain