As graceful aviators, the American Golden Plovers travel across both Americas in its migration. These birds are elegant and a sight to behold when you spot them. Among all the shorebirds, these might be the fastest which helps them with their long journey from the northern coasts of Canada and Alaska all the way down to the southern parts of South America. In that journey, they make multiple stops at which you can enjoy their company and take a beautiful picture.
If you’re looking for a great birdwatching spotting scope, make sure you check my full guide on that topic! Now, let’s start with the overall description of the American Golden Plover…
Size & Description
These plovers are medium-sized shorebirds that breed on the rocky northern shores of our continent. They have relatively long legs, a short neck, and an equally short bill. Their heads are large, rounded, and quite distinctive thanks to the white crown-like plumage. When they’re in their breeding colors, they have a black face, neck, and underside. The younger golden plovers are much brighter in their colors and have a specific pale stripe above their eyebrows. Their heads are smaller and have light-brown underpants.
Size-wise, these plovers are 9-11 inches long, weigh around 4-7 oz, and have a wingspan of up to 26.5 inches. You can put them between a robin and a crow for reference in terms of their overall size.
Preferred Food
While plovers love all sorts of food, the American variant specifically prefers aquatic invertebrates. They also love eating certain types of leaves, seeds, and of course – berries. Their behavior when it comes to food is similar to other types of birds in their family. They walk a few steps and then peck the ground if they find something interesting or edible. In their breeding grounds, they also feed on insects such as beetles, flies, or even whole snails. When they’re migrating through the open fields, they also include grasshoppers and caterpillars in their diet. Mollusks found around shores are also a favorite snack.
Another place you can find this golden plover is in shallow estuaries, beaches, or even mudflats where they will scout for all sorts of invertebrates.
Habitat and Populated Regions
The main habitat of these plovers is the North part of North America. More specifically, they prefer the northern shores of Canada and Alaska. There, they spend half of their time, with the other half spent migrating to the south and visiting various plains and tundras along the way. During their migration, these birds will go through the heart of the continent. That includes the Great Plains and the Valley of the Mississippi River. Unlike their coastal behavior, in the plains, they will forage far from bodies of water.
Differences between American and other Golden Plovers
The American plover is quite similar to its Pacific and European cousins. It is smaller, however, as well as slimmer. Compared to the European plover, it also has longer legs and darker armpit feathers. Pacific plovers can often be smaller than the American ones but with even longer legs. Their plumage is a bit brighter and has a yellower back.
There are also black-bellied Plovers, Snowy Plovers, Wilson’s Plovers, Semipalmated Plovers, Piping Plovers, Mountain Plovers, and more!
For an in-depth guide to bird identification, make sure you visit my fully detailed article on that topic!
Nesting
When it comes to nesting, there are quite a lot of interesting behaviors and facts about the golden plovers in general. The male first displays its flight capabilities high above the breeding grounds. They perform slow and strong beats with their wings with a continuous call, which is very memorable. When trying to seal the deal, males will crouch, have their neck forward and their tail raised.
The nest themselves are located deep into the dry tundras and on the ground. They are built by the male birds. A common place that they prefer to use is a slight depression in the tundra, preferably with lichens, grass, moss, or leaves around.
In terms of the number of eggs laid, they are most commonly 3 per nest. The eggs have a cinnamon color to them with bold black spots. They camouflage well against the surrounding vegetation in the tundra. Both parents take care of the incubation which takes around a month.
The young hatchlings leave the nest very early, which is quite uncommon in the bird world. While both parents will take care of the chicks, they will also start looking for food on their own from very early on. Their first flights usually occur in the fourth week.
Identification
In terms of identification, there are quite a lot of differences between the different members of the American golden plover family. Let’s discuss each of those now:
- Breeding Male – The breeding male is medium-sized and has a short bill. There is a specific white crown going around its face and head. The face below the eyes is black and that black plumage goes all the way down to the underpants.
- Breeding Female – Shape-wise, breeding females aren’t very easy to be distinguished from the males. They are, however, lighter in their colors and don’t have pure black underpants and face coloring. Their overall colors have more brown and white mixed into the typically darker tone of the males.
- Juvenile – Young American Golden Plovers are predominantly grey and brown. Something specific to them is their eyebrow stripe above their eyes. They have small dovelike heads and grayish underpants. Their wings are also quite long, extending beyond their tail.
- In-flight – These plovers flock when in-flight. Their tails are short and pointy, while the wings are long, pointy, and form a sharp angle.
- Nonbreeding adults – These are very similar to the Juveniles but have a slimmer body and a bulge on their chest. They also have their wings extend beyond their tail when walking.
Breeding adults also have a three-parted whistle which is distinctive. What is not so distinctive, though, is their quick up-and-down bobbing while running. In their habitat, these birds sit upright and are easy to identify thanks to the white crown and short bill.
The young ones are similar to adults in their winter form but have a light barring on their chests, flanks, and sides. Their yellow edges are more distinct, just like the rest of the spots on their wings and crown.
Interesting Facts
Some of the most curious facts about these birds are:
- Interestingly for plovers, the male will take care of the eggs during the day, while the female bird will take care of the night shift
- When these birds are migrating, they can be commonly found on beaches, golf courses, and even airports!
- Their chicks are among the fastest learning out there
- During the 19th century, a large number of these plovers has been shot and their population hasn’t yet reached its historical maximum
If you’re interested in learning about the common types of hummingbirds in North America, click here!
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Golden Plovers live?
Golden Plovers live quite a long life compared to other similar birds. There have been golden plovers captured in Alaska that have been dated to at least 13 years of age.
Does the American Golden Plover migrate to Hawaii?
Unlike the Pacific Golden Plover, the American one doesn’t migrate to Hawaii.
Final Words
As one of the most resilient birds in our hemisphere, the American Golden Plover is a definite fan-favorite. It covers a lot of ground during its migration and has a unique sound. The breeding males and juveniles are beautiful and have a distinct white crown that puts them high on any appearance contest. The medium size of these birds as well as their somewhat undynamic feeding habits make them an easy bird to spot and an even easier target for great pictures. Happy Birding!