- Pluvialis dominica
Identification
24–28 cm (9½-11 in)
Breeding plumage, dull golden-brown above, with black throat, breast, flanks, belly, and undertail coverts; bold white stripe runs from forehead, over eye, and down side of neck and breast.
In winter, has bold whitish eyebrow, grayish-white underparts. Lacks white wing stripe, white rump, and black patch under wing of larger and paler Black-bellied Plover.
Similar Species
European Golden Plover is more stocky and larger headed with white undertail coverts, short bill, and shorter primary projection.
Pacific Golden Plover in all plumages have very slightly longer shallower bill, slightly lighter golden colored back, not as contrasting supercilium, shorter primary projection, and slightly longer legs; in breeding plumage has white on flanks with black barring; nonbreeding plumage has greyish (with hint of gold) breast markings, whitish supercilium; juvenile has yellowish wash to face, barred yellowish breast and belly markings. Best separated with multiple field marks.
Black-bellied Plover is slightly larger with white undertail, black and white spotted back, and white tail and rump.
Distribution
Breeds in Arctic North America; winters southern South America An annual vagrant to Great Britain, normally in autumn. Vagrants have also been recorded in western and southern Africa.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species[1].
Habitat
Breeds on tundra. Uses coastal beaches, mudflats and inland prairies and plowed fields when migrating.
Behaviour
Three or four buff eggs, spotted with brown, are laid in a shallow depression lined with moss, usually on a ridge or other elevated spot in the tundra.
Vocalisation
Call a mellow quee-lee-la.
References
- Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2018. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2018. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
- Borealbirds
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2023) American Golden Plover. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 28 November 2023 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/American_Golden_Plover
External Links
GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1
