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 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: 25.6-26.4 in (65-67 cm)