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    American Golden-Plover Identification

    American Golden-Plover Breeding male
    Breeding male

    Stocky, medium-sized shorebird with a short bill. Breeding males have a white crown stripe that extends down the side of the neck. Underparts are black; upperparts are mottled gold, white, and black.

    © Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 19, 2012
    American Golden-Plover Breeding female
    Breeding female

    Stocky shorebird with a short, relatively thick bill. Breeding females look like males, but are paler overall with brown or whitish cheeks.

    © Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 29, 2013
    American Golden-Plover Breeding adult
    Breeding adult

    Common call is a 2- or 3-parted whistle. Like some other plovers, often pauses while running to bob quickly up and back down again.

    © Benjamin M Clock | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 11, 2007
    American Golden-Plover Juvenile
    Juvenile

    Juveniles are grayish brown overall with a pale eyebrow stripe. The head looks small, almost dovelike. The underparts are barred grayish-brown. Note long wings that extend beyond the tail.

    © Chris Wood | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 20, 2008
    American Golden-Plover Juvenile
    Juvenile

    Medium-sized shorebird with a dovelike head and short bill. Grayish-brown overall with a pale eyebrow stripe and barred underparts.

    © Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryNew Hampshire, September 27, 2011
    American Golden-Plover Nonbreeding adult
    Nonbreeding adult

    Nonbreeding birds look like juveniles but have a smudgier breast. Note pale eyebrow stripe and long wings that extend beyond the tail.

    © Ronald Newhouse | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 07, 2016
    American Golden-Plover Flock
    Flock

    In flight, note long, pointed wings.

    © Alex Lamoreaux | Macaulay LibraryIllinois, May 16, 2016
    American Golden-Plover Habitat
    Habitat

    At a distance note stocky body shape, upright posture, and short bill. During migration uses shallow estuaries, mudflats, beaches, and pastures.

    © Shailesh Pinto | Macaulay LibraryOhio, April 24, 2016
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    Adult Description

    • Medium-sized to large shorebird.
    • Legs moderately long.
    • Neck short.
    • Bill short.
    • Head large and rounded.
    • Golden and black speckled back.
    • In breeding plumage, black from face to under tail.

    Immature Description

    Juvenile similar to winter adult, but with light barring on chest, sides, and flanks, and more distinct yellow edges and spots on feathers of crown, back, and wings.
    Relative Size

    Relative Sizebetween robin and crowbetween robin and crow
    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 9.4-11.0 in (24-28 cm)
      • Weight: 4.3-6.8 oz (122-194 g)
      • Wingspan: 22.4 in (57 cm)

    Species in This Family

    Plovers and Lapwings(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Charadriidae)

    Black-bellied PloverBlack-bellied Plover
    American Golden-PloverAmerican Golden-Plover
    Pacific Golden-PloverPacific Golden-Plover
    Snowy PloverSnowy Plover
    Wilson's PloverWilson's Plover
    Semipalmated PloverSemipalmated Plover
    Piping PloverPiping Plover
    KilldeerKilldeer
    Mountain PloverMountain Plover

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