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Pacific Golden-Plover

Silhouette PloversPlovers
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulva
  • ORDER: Charadriiformes
  • FAMILY: Charadriidae

Basic Description

During the breeding season, Pacific Golden-Plovers dazzle with gold-spangled feathers and a jet-black face and breast. These graceful, long-winged shorebirds breed on arctic tundra, usually in lower, wetter slopes than the closely related American Golden-Plover. Both species perform fluttery courtship flights, giving mellow calls. After breeding, Pacific Golden-Plovers head far out over the sea to spend winters as far away as Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Horn of Africa.

More ID Info
image of range map for Pacific Golden-Plover
Year-roundBreedingMigrationNonbreeding
Range map provided by Birds of the World
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Find This Bird

Pacific Golden-Plovers are easy to spot on their wintering grounds, particularly in Hawaii where they are at home in parks and lawns. On the U.S. mainland, they are easy to find if you can visit their remote breeding grounds, such as near Nome, Alaska. They are scarce on migration along the West Coast. Look for the slim bill and capped appearance to separate from Black-bellied Plover; and for the longer white “scarf” and spotted undertail to separate from breeding American Golden-Plover.

Other Names

  • Chorlito Dorado Siberiano (Spanish)
  • Pluvier fauve (French)
  • Cool Facts