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  • Golden plover

Golden plover

Golden plover (summer plumage)
Golden plover (summer plumage)
Golden plover (juvenile)
Golden plover (juvenile)
  • Scientific name: Pluvialis apricaria
  • Bird family: Plovers
  • UK conservation status: Green
  • Protected by The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

Audio

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Ruud van Beusekom, Xeno-canto

Key information

The golden plover is 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.

What they eat:

Worms, beetles and insects.

Measurements:

Length:
26-29cm
Wingspan:
67-76cm
Weight:
160-280g

Population:

UK breeding:
38,000-59,000 pairs
UK wintering:
420,000 birds

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.

Golden plover (summer plumage)

Golden plover, summer plumage
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey White Yellow
Leg colour: Brown
Beak: Black Medium length Medium thickness
Natural habitats: Farmland Grassland Heathland Marine and intertidal Upland Wetland

Golden plover (juvenile)

Juvenile golden plover
Feather colour: Black Brown Cream/buff Grey White Yellow
Beak: Black Medium length Medium thickness
Natural habitats: Farmland Grassland Heathland Marine and intertidal Upland Wetland

Similar birds:

  • Grey plover, summer plumage
    Grey plover
  • Dotterel adult female
    Dotterel

Where and when 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.

* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  • Resident
  • Passage
  • Summer
  • Winter
Golden plover distribution map

The golden plover occupies 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.

  • jan
  • feb
  • mar
  • apr
  • may
  • jun
  • jul
  • aug
  • sep
  • oct
  • nov
  • dec

RSPB reserves

  • RSPB Berney Marshes and Breydon Water
  • RSPB Forsinard Flows
  • RSPB Crook of Baldoon
  • RSPB Dove Stone
  • RSPB West Sedgemoor

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RSPB Giving Nature a Home Campaign

Flow Country Partners

We've secured the purchase of Forsinard and Dyke, and can now start vital restoration of damaged peatland back to bog.

We spend 90% of net income on conservation, public education and advocacy

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