Species Profile
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricaria
Golden Plover
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernLifespan
10–15 years
Length
26–29 cm
Weight
160–280 g
Wingspan
67–76 cm
Migration
Long-distance Migrant
Also known as: European Golden Plover, Eurasian Golden Plover
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Appearance
The Golden Plover is a medium-sized shorebird with distinctive gold-speckled upperparts. In breeding plumage, males display a striking black face, neck, and belly, contrasting sharply with white borders.
Females are similar but have less extensive black areas. Both sexes adopt a more subdued plumage in winter, with mottled brown upperparts and pale underparts.
Juvenile golden plovers look the same as non-breeding adults but have lighter grey fringes to the feathers on their flanks and belly.
Identification & Characteristics
Male Colors
- Primary
- Gold
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Black
Female Colors
- Primary
- Gold
- Secondary
- White
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Black
Female Markings
Less bold black markings compared to males in breeding plumage
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Golden Plovers breed in Arctic and subarctic tundra across northern Europe and Russia. During winter, they migrate to temperate and subtropical regions, including western Europe and the British Isles.
Golden plovers' breeding grounds are typically found in tundra landscapes, bogs, heathlands, and peat-rich areas. In winter, agricultural pastures, salt marshes, mudflats, and estuaries attract large flocks of golden plovers.
In the UK, they are common winter visitors, especially between November and February, to coastal areas and inland grasslands, with some populations breeding in Scottish highlands and northern England. They also breed in the Peak District, North Yorkshire, parts of Wales, and Devon.
Distribution
Where to See This Bird
Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.
United Kingdom
England
Rutland
Cambridgeshire
Cornwall
Durham
East Riding of Yorkshire
Essex
East Sussex
Gloucestershire
Hampshire
Isle of Wight
Kent
Merseyside
Lancashire
Lincolnshire
Northumberland
Norfolk
Northamptonshire
North Yorkshire
Oxfordshire
Tyne and Wear
Suffolk
Somerset
Stockton-on-Tees
West Sussex
Diet
Golden Plovers primarily feed on insects, worms, and other invertebrates. They use their keen eyesight to spot prey on the ground, often employing a distinctive 'foot-trembling' technique to bring worms to the surface.
They also eat some plant matter, including berries, seeds, and grass. They feed at night and during the day and are thought to rely on sound and sight to detect food.
Behaviour
Golden Plovers are highly gregarious, often forming large flocks outside the breeding season. They exhibit a distinctive run-stop-tilt foraging behaviour, using their large eyes to spot prey. During courtship, males perform elaborate aerial displays, including steep climbs and rapid descents.
Calls & Sounds
The Golden Plover's call is a distinctive, melancholic whistle, often described as 'tlu-ee'. During breeding season, males produce a more complex song, a series of fluid, warbling notes that carry across their tundra habitat.
Nesting & Breeding
Golden Plovers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which typically begins in May. Males perform elaborate aerial displays to attract mates.
Nests are simple scrapes on the ground, often lined with lichen or moss. Females usually lay four eggs, which are olive-coloured with dark spots, providing excellent camouflage.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 28-31 days. The chicks are precocial, leaving the nest shortly after hatching and fledge after 35-45 days.
Conservation
While currently listed as Least Concern, Golden Plovers face threats from habitat loss and climate change. Conservation efforts focus on protecting breeding grounds in northern Europe and maintaining suitable wintering habitats in western Europe and the UK.
Elevation
Sea level to 1,200 meters
Additional Details
- Predators:
- Main predators include Arctic foxes, skuas, and large gulls, which target both eggs and chicks. Adult birds are occasionally taken by peregrine falcons and other raptors.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for Golden Plovers in open fields and coastal areas during migration
- Listen for their distinctive, melancholic whistle
- Observe their characteristic run-stop-tilt feeding pattern
- In the UK, watch for large flocks in upland areas during summer
Did You Know?
- Golden Plovers can fly at speeds up to 60 mph (97 km/h) during migration.
- During their annual migrations, They have been known to fly non-stop for up to 3,000 miles (4,800 km).
- Their scientific name, Pluvialis apricaria, means 'rain bird', referring to their tendency to call more frequently before rain.
- Iceland has a large population of Golden Plovers, with an estimated breeding population of up to 89,000 pairs in 2014.
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