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Difference between revisions of "European Golden Plover" - BirdForum Opus

(Extra pictures, Behaviour expanded. References updated)
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'''Alternative name: Eurasian Golden-Plover'''
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'''Alternative names: Golden Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover'''
 
[[Image:Eurasian_or_European_Golden_Plover.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Digiscoper321|Digiscoper321}}<br />West [[Sweden]], July 2005]]
 
[[Image:Eurasian_or_European_Golden_Plover.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|Digiscoper321|Digiscoper321}}<br />West [[Sweden]], July 2005]]
 
;[[:Category:Pluvialis|Pluvialis]] apricaria
 
;[[:Category:Pluvialis|Pluvialis]] apricaria
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
10.5"<br />
+
Length 26-29 cm, wingspan 67-76 cm<br />
'''Breeding adult''' is stocky with golden back and cap; black face and belly with white supercilium which goes down neck along flanks; white undertail coverts. <br />
+
'''Breeding adult''' is stocky with gold-on-black spangled back and cap; black face and belly with white supercilium which goes down neck along flanks; white undertail coverts. Amount of black on face and throat varies; most on northern males, least on southern females.<br />
'''Nonbreeding adult''' has buffy supercilium, buffy unmarked throat, and golden spotted breastband.<br />
+
'''Non-breeding adult''' has buffy supercilium, buffy unmarked throat, and golden spotted breast grading to white belly.<br />
'''Juvenile''' has well-defined breast barring. <br />
+
'''Juvenile''' is very similar to non-breeding adult, differing in fine pale gold barring on the belly. <br />
  
'''All plumages''' have short bill, bright golden coloured back, and white underwing coverts.<br />
+
'''All plumages''' have short bill, bright golden spangled back, and white underwing coverts.<br />
 
===Similar Species===
 
===Similar Species===
 
[[Image:Golden-plover-0103.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}}<br />Camborne,  [[Cornwall]], December 2010]]
 
[[Image:Golden-plover-0103.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding plumage<br />Photo by {{user|john-henry|john-henry}}<br />Camborne,  [[Cornwall]], December 2010]]
Overall much more golden coloured than other [[:Category:Pluvialis|Golden-Plovers]].
+
Overall more golden coloured than the other [[:Category:Pluvialis|''Pluvialis'' plovers]].
[[American Golden Plover]] in all plumages have longer bill, longer primary projection, darker golden coloured back, white contrasting supercilium, and grey underwing; in breeding plumage has totally black undertail coverts and belly; in nonbreeding and juvenile plumages has grey weakly barred belly and grey back with dark golden spots.<br />
+
[[American Golden Plover]] in all plumages has longer primary projection, darker golden coloured back, white contrasting supercilium, and grey underwing; in breeding plumage has totally black undertail coverts and belly; in nonbreeding and juvenile plumages has grey weakly barred belly and grey back with dark golden spots.<br />
[[Pacific Golden Plover]] in all plumages have longer bill, darker golden coloured back, white contrasting supercilium, slightly longer legs, and grey underwing; in breeding plumage has white on flanks with black barring; nonbreeding plumage has greyish not as defined breast markings, whitish supercilium; juvenile has yellowish wash to face, barred yellowish breast and belly markings.<br />
+
[[Pacific Golden Plover]] in all plumages has darker golden coloured back, white contrasting supercilium, slightly longer legs, and grey underwing; in breeding plumage has white on flanks with black barring; nonbreeding plumage has greyish not as defined breast markings, whitish supercilium; juvenile has yellowish wash to face, barred yellowish breast and belly markings.<br />
[[Grey Plover]] is slightly larger with white undertail, black and white spotted back, and white tail and rump.
+
[[Grey Plover]] is somewhat larger, with a longer, stouter bill, white undertail, black and white spotted back, and white uppertail coverts and rump.
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
 
[[Image:MG 0241 1-bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo by {{user|Mahsleb|Mahsleb}}<br />Southwold, [[Suffolk]], February 2012]]
 
[[Image:MG 0241 1-bf.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Non-breeding<br />Photo by {{user|Mahsleb|Mahsleb}}<br />Southwold, [[Suffolk]], February 2012]]
Northern [[Europe]] and western [[Asia]].<br />
+
Breeds in northern [[Europe]] and northwestern [[Asia]]; winters western and southern Europe, southwestern Asia and northern [[Africa]].<br />
'''Europe''': [[Iceland]], [[Scandinavia]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Finland]], [[Denmark]], [[Faroe Islands]], [[Greenland]], [[British Isles]], [[The Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], [[France]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]], [[Ibiza]], [[Mallorca]], [[Canary Islands]], [[Extremadura]], [[Switzerland]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Italy]], [[Sardinia]], [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], , [[Montenegro]], [[Albania]], [[Macedonia]], [[Greece]], [[Corfu]], [[Lesvos]], [[Crete]], [[Malta]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]], [[Ukraine]], [[Moldova]]<br />
+
'''Europe''': [[Iceland]], [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Finland]], [[Denmark]], [[Faroe Islands]], [[Greenland]] (rare), [[British Isles]], [[The Netherlands]], [[Belgium]], [[Luxembourg]], [[France]], [[Portugal]], [[Spain]] (including [[Ibiza]], [[Mallorca]], [[Canary Islands]], [[Extremadura]]), [[Switzerland]], [[Liechtenstein]], [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Italy]] (including [[Sardinia]]), [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Czech Republic]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]], [[Slovenia]], [[Croatia]], , [[Montenegro]], [[Albania]], [[Macedonia]], [[Greece]] (including [[Corfu]], [[Lesvos]], [[Crete]]), [[Malta]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Romania]], [[Ukraine]], [[Moldova]]<br />
 
'''Northern Africa''': [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Libya]], [[Egypt]], cid.]
 
'''Northern Africa''': [[Morocco]], [[Algeria]], [[Libya]], [[Egypt]], cid.]
'''Western Africa''': [[Mauritania]], [[Liberia]], [[Nigeria]]<br />
 
'''African Islands''': [[Gulf of Guinea Islands]], [[Sao Tome and Principe]]<BR />
 
 
'''Middle East''': [[Turkey]], [[Cyprus]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], [[Israel]]<br />
 
'''Middle East''': [[Turkey]], [[Cyprus]], [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]], [[Israel]]<br />
 
'''Arabian Peninsula''': [[Iran]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Georgia]]<br />
 
'''Arabian Peninsula''': [[Iran]], [[Azerbaijan]], [[Georgia]]<br />
'''Asia''': [[Russia]], [[Siberia]], [[Turkestan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Pakistan]], [[India]], Western [[Himalayas]]<br />
+
'''Asia''': [[Russia]], [[Siberia]], [[Turkestan]], [[Kazakhstan]], [[Turkmenistan]]<br />
[[South Australia]]
+
 
 +
Vagrant in winter west to the [[Azores]] and [[Canary Islands]], south to [[Mauritania]], [[Gambia]] and east to [[Pakistan]], and in summer west to [[Newfoundland]] in [[Canada]], and north to [[Svalbard]] and [[Jan Mayen]].
 
[[Image:Aagolden.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|cheersm8|cheersm8}}<br />[[Cambridgeshire]], [[UK]], September 2010 ]]
 
[[Image:Aagolden.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|cheersm8|cheersm8}}<br />[[Cambridgeshire]], [[UK]], September 2010 ]]
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
 
====Subspecies====
 
====Subspecies====
There are 2 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
+
Two subspecies are accepted by a few authors<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>, but the variation is clinal with extensive intergradation, with other authorities treating the species as [[Dictionary_M-O#M|monotypic]]<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>:
 
*''P. a. altifrons'':
 
*''P. a. altifrons'':
:*East-central [[Greenland]], [[Iceland]] and [[Faeroes]] to Taymyr Peninsula
+
:*Breeds east-central [[Greenland]], [[Iceland]] and [[Faeroes]] to Taymyr Peninsula. Breeding males with solid black face, breeding females with mostly black face.
 
*''P. a. apricaria'':
 
*''P. a. apricaria'':
:*[[British Isles]] to [[Baltic States|Baltic]] Peninsula; winters [[Mediterranean]] and Persian Gulf
+
:*Breeds [[British Isles]] to southern [[Scandinavia]] and the [[Baltic States]]; winters [[Mediterranean]] and Persian Gulf. Breeding males with mostly black face, breeding females with little black on the face.
  
An additional subspecies ''oreophilos'' is generally considered to be invalid<sup>[[#References|[2]]]</sup>.
+
The two subspecies are indistinguishable in winter and juvenile plumages. An additional subspecies ''P. a. oreophilos'' is generally considered to be invalid<sup>[[#References|[3]]]</sup>.
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
Breeds on moors and tundra, winters around coastal estuaries.
+
Breeds on moors and tundra, winters around coasts and on ploughed farmland or closely grazed grassland.
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
The diet includes insects, crustaceans, and berries.
 
The diet includes insects, crustaceans, and berries.
 
====Breeding====
 
====Breeding====
Ground nesters. The nest is usually just a hollow in the open ground, relying on the egg colouration for camouflage. The clutch consists of 4 eggs, which vary from stone-coloured through buff to pale olive; they are well marked with reddish-brown or black streaks, spots and splotches.
+
Ground nesters. The nest is usually just a hollow in the open ground, relying on the egg colouration for camouflage. The clutch consists of 4 eggs, which vary from stone-coloured through buff to pale olive; they are well marked with reddish-brown or black streaks, spots and splotches<sup>[[#References|[4]]]</sup>.
 
====Vocalisation====
 
====Vocalisation====
 
<flashmp3>Pluvialis apricaria (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
<flashmp3>Pluvialis apricaria (song).mp3</flashmp3><br />
 
''[[Media:Pluvialis apricaria (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
''[[Media:Pluvialis apricaria (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]''
 
==References==
 
==References==
#{{Ref-Clements6thOct12}}#Wikipedia
+
#{{Ref-Clements6thOct12}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.3}}#Avibase
 
#The Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs ISBN 0723200602
 
#The Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs ISBN 0723200602
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}

Revision as of 15:40, 11 October 2014

Alternative names: Golden Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover

Photo by Digiscoper321
West Sweden, July 2005
Pluvialis apricaria

Identification

Length 26-29 cm, wingspan 67-76 cm
Breeding adult is stocky with gold-on-black spangled back and cap; black face and belly with white supercilium which goes down neck along flanks; white undertail coverts. Amount of black on face and throat varies; most on northern males, least on southern females.
Non-breeding adult has buffy supercilium, buffy unmarked throat, and golden spotted breast grading to white belly.
Juvenile is very similar to non-breeding adult, differing in fine pale gold barring on the belly.

All plumages have short bill, bright golden spangled back, and white underwing coverts.

Similar Species

Non-breeding plumage
Photo by john-henry
Camborne, Cornwall, December 2010

Overall more golden coloured than the other Pluvialis plovers. American Golden Plover in all plumages has longer primary projection, darker golden coloured back, white contrasting supercilium, and grey underwing; in breeding plumage has totally black undertail coverts and belly; in nonbreeding and juvenile plumages has grey weakly barred belly and grey back with dark golden spots.
Pacific Golden Plover in all plumages has darker golden coloured back, white contrasting supercilium, slightly longer legs, and grey underwing; in breeding plumage has white on flanks with black barring; nonbreeding plumage has greyish not as defined breast markings, whitish supercilium; juvenile has yellowish wash to face, barred yellowish breast and belly markings.
Grey Plover is somewhat larger, with a longer, stouter bill, white undertail, black and white spotted back, and white uppertail coverts and rump.

Distribution

Non-breeding
Photo by Mahsleb
Southwold, Suffolk, February 2012

Breeds in northern Europe and northwestern Asia; winters western and southern Europe, southwestern Asia and northern Africa.
Europe: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Greenland (rare), British Isles, The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Portugal, Spain (including Ibiza, Mallorca, Canary Islands, Extremadura), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, Italy (including Sardinia), Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, , Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia, Greece (including Corfu, Lesvos, Crete), Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Moldova
Northern Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, cid.] Middle East: Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel
Arabian Peninsula: Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia
Asia: Russia, Siberia, Turkestan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan

Vagrant in winter west to the Azores and Canary Islands, south to Mauritania, Gambia and east to Pakistan, and in summer west to Newfoundland in Canada, and north to Svalbard and Jan Mayen.

Photo by cheersm8
Cambridgeshire, UK, September 2010

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Two subspecies are accepted by a few authors[1], but the variation is clinal with extensive intergradation, with other authorities treating the species as monotypic[2]:

  • P. a. altifrons:
  • Breeds east-central Greenland, Iceland and Faeroes to Taymyr Peninsula. Breeding males with solid black face, breeding females with mostly black face.
  • P. a. apricaria:

The two subspecies are indistinguishable in winter and juvenile plumages. An additional subspecies P. a. oreophilos is generally considered to be invalid[3].

Habitat

Breeds on moors and tundra, winters around coasts and on ploughed farmland or closely grazed grassland.

Behaviour

Diet

The diet includes insects, crustaceans, and berries.

Breeding

Ground nesters. The nest is usually just a hollow in the open ground, relying on the egg colouration for camouflage. The clutch consists of 4 eggs, which vary from stone-coloured through buff to pale olive; they are well marked with reddish-brown or black streaks, spots and splotches[4].

Vocalisation

<flashmp3>Pluvialis apricaria (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, B.L. Sullivan, C. L. Wood, and D. Roberson. 2012. The eBird/Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2012. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.3). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. Avibase
  4. The Observer's Book of Birds' Eggs ISBN 0723200602

Recommended Citation

External Links


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