American golden plover

Scientific name: Pluvialis dominica

How weight is recorded: Whole weight

Field notes

Appearance

Breeding plumage shows striking black and white head and neck markings with golden-spangled upperparts; non-breeding birds appear duller grey-brown above with whitish underparts. Compact shorebird with relatively large dark eye and slender black bill.

Size and weight

Weight: 130–180 g. Length: 24–27 cm. Males slightly smaller than females on average.

Habitat

Arctic tundra breeding grounds with low vegetation, sparse grasses, and lichen-covered plains. During migration and winter, found on grasslands, prairies, mudflats, and coastal areas.

Distribution

Breeds across Arctic North America from Alaska eastward; winters on grasslands and coastal areas of South America, with migration routes passing through interior North America and prairie regions.

Diet

Omnivorous ground gleaner feeding on insects (beetles, flies, grasshoppers), small crustaceans, and vegetation; foraging intensity increases in pre-migration periods.

Behaviour

Highly migratory shorebird, active during daylight hours with periods of intense feeding before long-distance flights; often seen in loose flocks during migration and winter, highly alert with characteristic head-up posture.

Hunting tips

Look for flocks in open grasslands and mudflats during migration periods; birds are wary and prefer early morning and late evening feeding. Approach using terrain contours and vegetation for cover; birds flush readily, so patience and distance are critical. Decoys and calls can be effective during migration concentration periods.

Whole weight

This species is logged by whole weight — the animal weighed entire, as taken.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 1 country in Huntify.

Barbados

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.