Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player. Latin namePluvialis apricaria FamilyPlovers and lapwings (Charadriidae) OverviewA medium-sized plover with a distinctive gold and black summer plumage. In winter the black in replaced by buff and white. They typically stand upright and run in short bursts. Very wary on the breeding grounds. In winter they form large flocks which fly in fairly tight formation with rapid, twinkling wingbeats. Where to see themIn summer they inhabit upland moorlands in the S Uplands and Highlands of Scotland, the Western and Northern Isles, the Peak District, N Yorkshire, Wales and Devon. In winter they move to lowland fields, forming large flocks, often in the company of lapwings. When to see themThey occupy their breeding grounds from May to September. Winter flocks start to appear and build up after the breeding season with largest numbers between November and February. What they eatWorms and beetles Estimated numbers| Europe | UK breeding* | UK wintering* | UK passage* |
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| - | 22,600 pairs | 310,000 birds | - |
* UK breeding is the number of pairs breeding annually. UK wintering is the number of individuals present from October to March. UK passage is the number of individuals passing through on migration in spring and/or autumn. Distribution
- In the UK
- Upland UK in summer; lowland UK in winter
Please note that the map is only intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations. Find out more
Audio is from commercial recordings Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs or Bird Sounds of Europe & North-west Africa, copyright WildSounds & CEBA (www.wildsounds.com, (UK) +44 (0) 1263 741100) |