Photo: O. W. Johnson / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
American Golden Plover
Pluvialis dominica
American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) — Shorebirds, Gulls & Auks of North America.
Found across 16 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) is a member of the Charadriidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 151 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Charadriiformes
- Family Charadriidae Plovers
- Genus Pluvialis
- Species dominica
Where it lives
High Arctic to subarctic, Alaska and northern, northeastern Canada: northwestern, northern, eastern Alaska, Yukon to north-central British Columbia east to western Hudson Bay and Baffin I. (northeastern Canada)
Quick facts
- Weight
- 151 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Charadriidae
- Order
- Charadriiformes
- Habitat
- Grassland & open country
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The American Golden Plover is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of open grassland, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The American Golden Plover is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) belongs to the Charadriidae family of the order Charadriiformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA high Arctic to subarctic, Alaska and n, ne Canada: nw, n, e Alaska, Yukon to nc British Columbia e to w Hudson Bay and Baffin I. (ne Canada).
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 151 g, with a wing length of about 18.2 cm and a tail of around 6.6 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.6 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the American Golden Plover?
The American Golden Plover is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 151 g.
Where does the American Golden Plover live?
The American Golden Plover is found across North America with a range covering NA high Arctic to subarctic, Alaska and n, ne Canada: nw, n, e Alaska, Yukon to nc British Columbia e to w Hudson Bay and Baffin I. (ne Canada), where it favours open grassland, scrub and lightly vegetated country.
What family does the American Golden Plover belong to?
The American Golden Plover (Pluvialis dominica) belongs to the Charadriidae family, in the order Charadriiformes.
What does the American Golden Plover eat?
The American Golden Plover is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the American Golden Plover migrate?
The American Golden Plover is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the American Golden Plover endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the American Golden Plover make?
1 real field recording of the American Golden Plover — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the American Golden Plover's range?
The American Golden Plover has a mapped global range of about 3.6 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Charadriidae
Vulnerable
Least Concern
Extinct
Critically Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Shorebirds
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Near Threatened