American Golden-Plover Identification

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.

Breeding female

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

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.

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.

Juvenile

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

Juvenile

Nonbreeding adult

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

Flock

In flight, note long, pointed wings.

Habitat

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