Measurements
Both Sexes
- Length
- 9.1–10.2 in
23–26 cm - Weight
- 3.6–3.8 oz
102–108 g
Other Names
- Pacific Golden Plover, Asiatic Golden-Plover, Golden Plover (in part), American Golden Plover (in part), Lesser Golden-Plover (in part)
- Pluvier doré du Pacifique, Pluvier fauve (French)
- Chorlito siberiano (Spanish)
Cool Facts
- The Pacific Golden-Plover and the American Golden-Plover used to be considered subspecies within the same species. Where their breeding ranges overlap in western Alaska they nest in slightly different habitats, have different display calls, and do not interbreed, and are now classified as different species.
- The winter range of the Pacific Golden-Plover extends across nearly half of the earth's circumference, from California, to Hawaii, to Asia, to northeastern Africa.
- Young Pacific Golden-Plovers are able to run soon after hatching. The first-hatched chicks regularly forage near the nest while the adult continues to incubate late-hatching eggs.
Habitat
Grassland
Breeds on Arctic tundra, especially in vegetation in low areas with few rocks. Winters in cultivated fields, pastures, salt marshes, airports, parks, lawns, golf courses, and clearings in wooded areas. On migration found in prairie, pastures, tilled farmland, golf courses, airports, mudflats, shorelines, and beaches.
Food
Insects
Invertebrates, berries, leaves, and seeds.
Nesting
Nesting Facts
- Clutch Size
- 4 eggs
- Egg Description
- White to buff, heavily spotted and splotched with dark brown and black.
Nest Description
Scrape in ground, lined with lichens, dry grass, or leaves.
Behavior
Ground Forager
Feeds in short vegetation or open areas. Moves by stop-run-stop, scanning and capturing prey at stops. Captures prey by single peck or series of pecks.
Conservation
Least Concern
No evidence of threats to populations.
Credits
- Johnson, O. W., and P. G. Connors. 1996. American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica), Pacific Golden-Plover (Pluvialis fulva). In The Birds of North America, No. 201-202 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.