General

Pacific Golden-Plover: Medium-sized plover with yellow-spotted, dark brown back, black face and black underparts with white-mottled flanks; vent tends to be mostly white with a scattering of black. A white S-shaped mark extends from above the eye to along sides. Bill is black, thin and short. Wings are longer than the tail. Female is paler with white cheeks and undertail. Winter adults are mottled brown, have darker upperparts and lack distinctive black-and-white markings. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but with brown barring on flank.

Range and Habitat

Pacific Golden-Plover: Breeds from northern Siberia to the western coast of Alaska. Winters from southern Asia to Pacific islands, but a few occur along the west coast and in central California. Preferred habitats include coastal mudflats and lagoons, sandy beaches, ploughed fields and short grasslands.

Breeding and Nesting

Pacific Golden-Plover: Four white to buff eggs marked with brown and black are laid in a shallow ground depression lined with moss, grass, and dead leaves. Nest is built by the male; incubation is carried out by both parents for about 25 days. Young start to fly at 26 to 28 days.

Foraging and Feeding

Pacific Golden-Plover: Their diet includes invertebrates, primarily terrestrial, some freshwater and marine, as well as berries, leaves and seeds. Generally they prefer micro-habitats where plant cover is short or absent, allowing ease of movement and relatively unobstructed vision. They often drink and bathe in puddles, after or during rain.

Vocalization

Pacific Golden-Plover: Common call is a loud, rich "klu-eeee" whistle.

Similar Species

Pacific Golden-Plover: American Golden-Plover has thicker bill, solid black flanks and undertail, and shorter legs; female has brown cheek patch; winter adult and juvenile are more gray.