American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica
The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is a common plovers and lapwing found in 84 countries, weighing about 151 g. The American golden plover is a medium-sized plover.
About the 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.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
Measurements: Length: 24–28 cm (9+1⁄2–11 in) Weight: 122–194 g (4+5⁄16–6+13⁄16 oz) Wingspan: 65–67 cm (25+1⁄2–26+1⁄2 in) The breeding adult American golden plover has a black face, neck, breast, and belly, with a white crown and nape that extends to the side of the breast. The back is mottled black and white with pale, gold spots. The breeding female is similar, but with less black. When in winter plumage, both sexes have grey-brown upperparts, pale grey-brown underparts, and a whitish eyebrow. The head is small, along with the bill.
What the American Golden Plover sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Morocco, Taiwan, New Zealand, Falkland Islands, Russia, Ghana, St. Barthélemy, Austria.
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, August, September, October, with peak activity in September. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify an American Golden Plover?
- Measurements: Length: 24–28 cm (9+1⁄2–11 in) Weight: 122–194 g (4+5⁄16–6+13⁄16 oz) Wingspan: 65–67 cm (25+1⁄2–26+1⁄2 in) The breeding adult American golden plover has a black face, neck, breast, and belly, with a white crown and nape that extends to the side of the breast. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is an American Golden Plover?
- The American Golden Plover is a medium sized bird weighing about 151 g.
- Where can you see an American Golden Plover?
- The American Golden Plover occurs in 84 countries, including the United States, Canada, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
- What does an American Golden Plover sound like?
- You can listen to 2 field recordings of the American Golden Plover on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to an American Golden Plover?
- The American Golden Plover is most easily confused with the Pacific Golden Plover, the European Golden Plover and the Grey Plover.
- Is the American Golden Plover endangered?
- The American Golden Plover is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the American Golden Plover for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.