E-mail to a friendE-newsletterContact us
HomeAbout usAdviceBirdsJoinOur workReservesSupport usShopThings to do
  • Overview
  • Awards & recognition
  • Contact us
  • Facts and figures
  • History
  • How we are run
  • Inspiring work
  • Job vacancies
  • Looking to the future
  • Media centre
  • Offices
  • The RSPB view
  • What we do
  • Overview
  • Farming
  • Gardening
  • Green living
  • Helping birds
  • Land management
  • Law
  • Watching birds
  • Overview
  • Aren't birds brilliant!
  • Birds by name
  • Birds by family
  • Bird identifier
  • Features
  • Reserves
  • Webcams
  • Wildlife garden guide
  • Overview
  • Campaigns
  • Corporate membership
  • Credit card
  • Donations
  • Fundraising
  • Gift Aid
  • Shop
  • Green energy
  • Holidays in the UK
  • Join the RSPB
  • Leave a legacy
  • Recycle your mobile phone
  • Share giving
  • Vehicle breakdown cover
  • Overview
  • Join now
  • Why join?
  • Membership as a gift
  • Membership benefits
  • Renewals
  • Other ways to support us
  • Overview
  • Great days out
  • By habitat
  • By name
  • By location
  • Recent sightings
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Around the UK
  • Conservation
  • Document library
  • Farming
  • International
  • Job vacancies
  • News
  • Media centre
  • Policy
  • Reserves
  • Science
  • Teaching
  • Shop homepage
  • Binoculars
  • Bird care accessories
  • Bird feeders
  • Bird food
  • Bird tables and baths
  • Books, DVDs and CDs
  • Garden
  • Homeware
  • Prints and canvases
  • Toys
  • Virtual gifts
  • Wildlife care
  • Shops on reserves
  • Overview
  • Near you
  • Events
  • E-newsletter
  • Fundraising
  • Local groups
  • Reserves
  • Surveys
  • Volunteering
  • Webcams
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
Flock of golden plovers in flight Moorland landscape with heather in August Breeding-plumaged golden plover
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Golden plover

Green conservation status

Sound files

Listen

Video files

1 video

Sound clips and movies require Adobe Flash player.

Latin name

Pluvialis apricaria

Family

Plovers and lapwings (Charadriidae)

Overview

A 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 them

In 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 them

They 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 eat

Worms and beetles

Estimated numbers

EuropeUK breeding*UK wintering*UK passage*
-22,600 pairs310,000 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

Key

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

  • Videos

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)

2 illustrations

12

Illustrations
Golden plover adult summer

Adult summer

Golden plover juvenile

Adult winter/juvenile

Similar birds

Grey plover in winter plumage (illustration)

Grey plover

Dotterels (illustration)

Dotterel

Help the Golden plover

Help us save Broubster Leans and the beautiful and varied wildlife that live here

Your gift today will help save the Leans for birds like this

About the RSPB

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way. More...

Contact us

Visit our Contact us section for telephone numbers, office addresses and more.

Latest news

Eggs-actly what we hoped for!

A pair of rare hen harriers is incubating six eggs at a nest site in Northumberland’s North Tynedale, the RSPB and Forestry Commission announced today (7 May 2008).

National Ethical Investment Week

As a supporter of green and ethical investment, the RSPB is supporting National Ethical Investment Week 2008.

On a wing and a prayer

A coalition of conservation, countryside and welfare groups has called for increased efforts to tackle the illegal killing of the UK’s birds of prey.

More news...

Add your voice for nature

As a charity, we rely on the support of members to continue our work protecting birds and wildlife.

Join now from only £2.84/month.

Free e-newsletter

Over 200,000 people enjoy our monthly e-mail newsletter.

Why not sign up?

Contact us
© 2008 The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Charity registered in England and Wales no 207076, in Scotland no SC037654
Privacy policy
Last published: 27/11/2007 09:52:15
Show/hide picture credits
Flock of golden plovers in flight - Nigel Blake
Moorland landscape with heather in August - Andy Hay (rspb-images.com, Ref: 2003-5469-009)
Breeding-plumaged golden plover - Nigel Blake
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)