Pacific Golden-Plover Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
American Golden-Plover
Breeding male
The white stripe on breeding American Golden-Plovers is restricted to the head and neck, but it goes all the way from the head to the flanks on Pacific Golden-Plovers. The undertail coverts are solid black on American, but spotted on Pacific Golden-Plovers.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 19, 2012Similar Species
American Golden-Plover
Breeding female
Breeding female American Golden Plovers have less white on the flanks compared to breeding female Pacific Golden-Plovers.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 29, 2013Similar Species
American Golden-Plover
Nonbreeding adult
Nonbreeding American Golden-Plovers are more grayish overall whereas Pacific Golden-Plovers have a pale yellow wash on the face and yellow spots on the back, but can be difficult to assess color in the field.
© Ronald Newhouse | Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 07, 2016Similar Species
American Golden-Plover
Juvenile
The wing tips extend farther beyond the tail on juvenile American Golden-Plovers than they do on juvenile Pacific Golden-Plovers.
© Luke Seitz | Macaulay LibraryNew Hampshire, September 27, 2011Similar Species
Black-bellied Plover
Breeding male
Breeding male Black-bellied Plovers have a black-and-white back and white undertail coverts while Pacific Golden-Plovers have golden mottling on the back and spotted undertail coverts.
© Matt Davis | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, May 02, 2017Similar Species
Black-bellied Plover
Nonbreeding adult
Black-bellied Plovers are larger with a thicker bill than Pacific Golden-Plovers. Nonbreeding Black-bellied Plovers have a faint eyebrow while nonbreeding Pacific Golden-Plovers have a more distinct eyebrow.
© Roy Netherton | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 20, 2017Main Species
Pacific Golden-Plover
Breeding male
Medium-sized shorebird with an upright posture and a short bill. Black face and underparts bordered by white stripe, extending from forehead to flanks. Upperparts are mottled in gold, black, and white.
© Sharif Uddin | Macaulay LibraryHawaii, April 13, 2019Breeding female
Breeding females have a more mottled white and brown face with a thicker white stripe down the flanks. Note spotted undertail coverts.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, May 22, 2013Breeding male
Call is a high, rising whistle. Nests on tundra in western Alaska and Eurasia; males help incubate and care for the young.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryAlaska, June 01, 1998Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult
A shorebird with an upright posture and a short, somewhat thick bill. Nonbreeding birds have a pale eyebrow stripe with gold-spotted backs and grayish smudgy breasts.
© David Irving | Macaulay LibraryNew South Wales, November 21, 2020Immature
A shorebird with an upright posture and a short, somewhat thick bill. The wing feathers barely extend beyond the tail. Nonbreeding birds have a pale face with a paler eyebrow and golden spots on the back.
© Janine Schutt | Macaulay LibraryWashington, October 12, 2018Nonbreeding
Winters across Pacific including the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, and New Zealand. This individual shows a few black belly feathers beginning to molt in as breeding season approaches.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryHawaii, February 17, 2014Not all videos have sound
Nonbreeding adult/immature
During the nonbreeding season found in fields, grassy areas, beaches, and mudflats. Nonbreeding birds have a pale face with with a paler eyebrow and golden spots on the back.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, October 27, 2020Nonbreeding adult/immature
In flight, note dark rump, long, pointed wings, and heavy chest.
© Ged Tranter | Macaulay LibraryQueensland, December 31, 2020Molting adult
Molting adults have the spotted back and pale eyebrow of a nonbreeding bird combined with the black belly of a breeding bird.
© Gayle Dangers-Meusel | Macaulay LibraryHawaii, April 07, 2016Immature (with Black-bellied Plover)
Slightly smaller, more slender, with a thinner bill than Black-bellied Plovers (background).
© Derek Hameister | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 07, 2021Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Plovers and Lapwings(Order: Charadriiformes, Family: Charadriidae)
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