General

European Golden-Plover: Largest of the golden plovers, showing black crown, throat, neck and upperparts with small bright gold spotting. White band on forehead runs down sides of neck and along flank; black underparts trimmed in white. Undertail is white and short legs are dark gray. Female has less black on face. Juvenile is paler gray-brown with dull gold spotting.

Range and Habitat

European Golden-Plover: Rare passage migrant. Occurs throughout Kazakhstan, but mainly in north-western Kazakhstan and in the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn region in central Kazakhstan. Occurs in limited numbers in extreme northwestern Canada. In winter, may occur at Karakul Lake on the eastern Caspian coast. Prefers open ground and tundra habitats.

Breeding and Nesting

European Golden-Plover: Four white to buff eggs with brown and black markings are laid in a nest of stems, leaves and lichens on the ground in an open dry area. Both sexes incubate for 28 to 31 days.

Foraging and Feeding

European Golden-Plover: Eats mainly earthworms, also forages for insects, crustaceans and berries on tundra, fields, beaches and tidal flats.

Vocalization

European Golden-Plover: Melancholy long whistle.

Similar Species

European Golden-Plover: American Golden-Plover has gray underwings and completely black underparts. Pacific Golden-Plover is smaller and more brightly colored.