North American field guide
American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica
Also known as:Lesser Golden-Plover
Identification
Field notes
23-28 cm (9-11") Common. Tundra; in migration, prairies, along coasts, mudflats, open country.
Robin-sized plover.
Summer: speckled, golden-brown upperparts; black face; completely black underside including undertail coverts; white stripe extends across forehead down side to breast.
Winter: similar but with a gray-brown underside.
In flight: dark rump and tail, no wing bar and gray armpits.
Was called Lesser Golden-Plover.
Song: whistled "chu-leet".
Details in the field
Photo gallery
Watch and learn
Videos
American Golden Plover
Credit: Janne AaltoAmerican Golden Plover in winter
Credit: Matt HafnerAmerican Golden Plover
Credit: Nature ExplorationAmerican Golden Plover
Credit: Janne AaltoBird Advisor Identification rules 1 variant · 2 rules
These are the observation paths the Bird Advisor can use to identify this species. Each rule is an alternative match.
American Golden-Plover
2 rulesRule 1 12 criteria · confidence 4
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BELLY ?
- Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- White, or pale (grayish-white) · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the THROAT ?
- Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ?
- Light area between the bill and the eye · Light area over, below, behind or around the eye · Light area running up the side of the neck or head · NONE of the above or a PLAIN unmarked FACE · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Sandpiper-like
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Spring · Summer · Fall
Rule 2 9 criteria · confidence 4
- What colour PATTERN if any was on the BACK ?
- Streaked, mottled, spotted, or barred · Unknown
- What colour was the BACK ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What colour was the BREAST ?
- Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan · Rufous (dull-red or rust-colored) · Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown) · Gray, or blue-gray · Unknown
- What colour was the BILL ?
- Gray, or blue-gray · Black, purple, or dark · Unknown
- What SHAPE was the BILL ?
- Straight and slender · Straight and thick · Unknown
- What LENGTH was the BILL ?
- Short · Medium · Unknown
- How BIG was the bird ?
- Robin-sized · Pigeon-sized
- What TYPE of bird was seen ?
- Sandpiper-like
- WHEN was the bird seen ?
- Winter