American golden plover

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.

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Distribution

Region

Americas

Typical Environment

Breeds on dry, sparsely vegetated Arctic tundra across Alaska and northern Canada. During migration it passes through interior North America, often favoring open fields, prairies, and mudflats. In winter it occurs widely in South America, especially the grasslands and agricultural landscapes of the Pampas and campos. Compared with many shorebirds, it is frequently found inland rather than strictly along coasts.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 3500 m

Climate Zone

Other

Characteristics

Size23–26 cm

Wing Span53–63 cm

Male Weight0.14 kg

Female Weight0.17 kg

Life Expectancy10 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

The American golden plover is a remarkable long-distance migrant, capable of nonstop transoceanic flights between the Arctic and South America. Its genus name relates to rain (Latin pluvia), reflecting the old belief that flocks foretold wet weather. In breeding plumage it shows striking gold-flecked upperparts and bold black underparts bordered by a white stripe.

Gallery

Behaviour

Temperament

wary and alert

Flight Pattern

strong flier with rapid wingbeats; capable of sustained long-distance flights

Social Behavior

Outside the breeding season, it forms loose flocks that may mix with other shorebirds. Breeding pairs are typically monogamous, nesting on the ground in a shallow scrape lined with vegetation. Chicks are precocial and leave the nest shortly after hatching, feeding themselves under parental watch.

Migratory Pattern

Seasonal migrant

Song Description

Gives clear, whistled calls, often a plaintive tuu-eee or queet that carries over open tundra and fields. Vocalizations increase during display flights on the breeding grounds and during migratory movement.

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Identification

Leg Colorblackish-grey

Eye Colordark brown

Plumage

In breeding season, upperparts are gold-spangled with black and brown, and the face, throat, and belly are black bordered by a clean white stripe from forehead to flanks. Nonbreeding birds are mottled gray-brown above with pale speckling and a dusky, more diffuse underside.

Feeding Habits

Diet

Feeds primarily on insects and other invertebrates such as beetles, flies, grasshoppers, spiders, and small mollusks. It also takes worms and occasionally seeds and berries, especially outside the breeding season. Forages with a run-stop-peck method, visually detecting prey on open ground.

Preferred Environment

On the breeding grounds it feeds on dry, elevated tundra with short vegetation and lichen. During migration and in winter it favors short-grass fields, pastures, plowed agricultural lands, and mudflats where prey is accessible.

Population

Total Known PopulationStable population of 100,000–500,000 individuals

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