Pacific Golden-Plover Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A medium-sized shorebird with an upright posture, rather large head, slim neck, long wings, and relatively long legs.

  Relative Size

  Larger than a Killdeer, less bulky and slightly smaller than a Black-bellied Plover.

  between robin and crow

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
  • • Length: 9.1-10.2 in (23-26 cm)
    • Weight: 3.6-3.8 oz (102-108 g)

  © Nick Anich / Macaulay Library

• Color Pattern

  Adults in breeding plumage are gold-spangled above, blackish below, with a white “scarf” extending from brow to flanks. Adult nonbreeding birds have strong gold tones above and are dingy grayish below. Juveniles are rich gold above, mottled grayish below, with a gold-toned face.

• Behavior

  Pacific Golden-Plovers forage in typical plover fashion, running along and suddenly stopping to scan or seize prey; they also dig small pits to unearth prey. They form flocks in migration and on wintering grounds. Males sing and perform graceful aerial displays on breeding grounds.
• Habitat

  Nests on tundra, sometimes in higher, drier tundra in mountains but usually in lower slopes with dwarf shrubs or sedges. Migrants and wintering birds use agricultural fields, lawns, parks, pasture, sod farms, estuaries, mudflats, saltmarshes, beaches, and mangroves.