Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

A master of camouflage, this striking shorebird transforms from mottled brown to a dazzling golden-black plumage during breeding season.

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Visual Identification

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.

Size

Length

26cm to 29cm

Wingspan

67cm to 76cm

Weight

160g to 280g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Gold Black

Secondary Colour

White Brown

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Black

Primary Colour (Female)

Gold Brown

Secondary Colour (Female)

White

Beak Colour (Female)

Black

Leg Colour (Female)

Black

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Golden Plover can be found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Golden Plover can be found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Golden Plover can be found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Golden Plover is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 1,200 meters

Climate zones

Subarctic, Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Golden Plover. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons