A medium-sized shorebird with brilliant golden-spangled back in breeding plumage. Migrates 25,000+ km annually between Arctic and southern South America.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The American golden plover is a medium-sized plover. The genus name is Latin and means relating to rain, from pluvia, "rain". It was believed that golden plovers flocked when rain was imminent. The species name dominica refers to Santo Domingo, now Hispaniola, in the West Indies.
Source: Wikipedia — American golden plover Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Sleek plover; breeding adults have a black face and underparts, a bold white side-stripe, and a gold-spangled back. Nonbreeding birds golden-brown and unmarked. Underwings gray.
Similar species. Black-bellied Plover is grayer with black 'armpits' and a white rump; the golden-plover is slimmer with gray underwings and a gold-spangled back.
Voice. A plaintive, whistled 'queedle' or 'tuee'.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects, small invertebrates from shoreline or open ground.
Behavior. A long-distance migrant that breeds on arctic tundra and winters in South America, flying a loop migration; forages on open ground with the run-stop-peck motion typical of plovers.
§ Range
Across North America during migration; Arctic breeders
§ Habitat
Prairie grasslands, plowed fields, coastal mudflats
§ Threats
Habitat loss along migration routes, climate change.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the american golden-plover is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Support coastal protection. Reduce ocean pollution.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — American golden plover
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Pluvialis dominica
- IUCN Red List — search for Pluvialis dominica
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Pluvialis dominica
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
