Bird GuidePloversEuropean Golden-Plover

European Golden-Plover

European Golden-Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
At a Glance Range & Identification Back to Top

At a Glance

An irregular spring visitor to Newfoundland, sometimes seen in flocks, especially after strong storms over the North Atlantic. A few spring records elsewhere in eastern Canada, and a scattering of late summer and fall records, including some in the eastern United States. Like other golden-plovers, may be seen in shoreline habitats or on open fields.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Sandpiper-like Birds
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Fields, Meadows, and Grasslands
Behavior
Direct Flight, Running, Walking

Range & Identification

Description

11" (28 cm). Very much like American and Pacific Golden-Plovers but slightly larger, heavier, with thicker neck, shorter wingtips, smaller bill. In breeding plumage, amount of black on underparts varies, but always restricted and surrounded by white. In flight, undersides of wings are bright white (grayer in the other golden-plovers).
Size
About the size of a Robin
Color
Black, Brown, Tan, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Pointed
Tail Shape
Rounded, Short, Square-tipped

Songs and Calls

Call Type
Whistle