American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pluvialis ("plover") dominica ("of Santo Domingo" - now Hispaniola)

Juvenile American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) at Eyebrook Reservoir, Rutland, UK - October 2025

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 122-194g  /  Length: 24-28cm  /  Wingspan: 65-67cm
NO UK STATUS / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

Formally bunched with the Pacific Golden Plover as the Lesser Golden Plover, the two species have now been split. They breed on the high Tundra of Alaska and Canada and migrate almost the entire length of the Americas down to Patagonia - one of the longest known bird migration routes! They do overlap on passage with Pacific Golden Plover along the West Coast of the US and Canada, and are differentiated by details of plumage and build. They do periodically turn up as vagrants in the UK.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadridae
Genus: Pluvialis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A rare vagrant
 - Seen at Eyebrook Reservoir, October 2025

UNITED STATES 
Breeds in Alaska, a passage migrant elsewhere
- CALIFORNIA 2022 TRIP: Seen at Berkeley

 Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva)

OTHER NAMES: N/A
Latin Etymology: Pluvialis ("relating to rain") fulva ("tawny")

Three non-breeding Pacific Golden Plover (Pluvialis fulva) at Sungei Buloh, Singapore - February 2019

Featured Subspecies: N/A
Weight: 140g  /  Length: 23-26cm  /  Wingspan: 60-72cm
RARE VAGRANT IN UK ONLY / IUCN Red List: Least Concern

There are three species of Golden Plover worldwide, roughly splitting the entire Northern hemisphere between them, breeding in the far North and migrating South for the Winter.  The Pacific Golden Plover is the representative in East of Asia and along the top of the North American West coast.  A daintier bird than the Eurasian, it does on occassion turn up as a vagrant in the UK, but was numerous at Sungei Buloh in Singapore as a Winter migrant.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadridae
Genus: Pluvialis
SUBSPECIES: none - monotypic 

 - Sighting Locations -

SINGAPORE - A common Winter migrant.

 - CAMBODIA/SINGAPORE 2019 TRIP: Numerous at at Sungei Buloh

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .

European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)

OTHER NAMES: Golden Plover

Latin Etymology: Pluvialis ("relating to rain") apricaria ("to bask in the sun")

Two adult Golden Plover (subspecies P. a. apricaria) in Winter plumage at Oare Marshes - September 2011

Featured Subspecies: Pluvialis apricaria apricaria
Weight: 220g  /  Length: 26-29cm  /  Wingspan: 72cm
UK AMBER LIST / IUCN RED List: Least Concern

In my oppinion, easily one of Britain's most handsome waders, the golden plover is often seen in large flocks in winter in suitable wetland habitat. In summer, it breeds in various highland areas, so realistically it's probably better to aim for seeing them on passage or in winter. The summer bird has a dramatic black front while the winter plumage replaces it with a less striking pale belly. Photographically, it's a medium sized wader, so if you are lucky enough to be in a hide relatively close to them you should have no trouble at all.

Related Species:
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Charadridae
Genus: Pluvialis
Subspecies: P. a. altifrons, P. a. apricaria

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - Localised breeding species (38,00-59,000 pairs) and locally abundant Winter visitor (420,000 birds)

 - Birds seen at sites including but not limited to Rutland Water, Oare Marshes, Elmley Marshes, Pitsford Reservoir and once a passage flock at Geddington.

Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto .