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The three species of golden plovers are all famous as world travelers, migrating between their Arctic breeding grounds and distant wintering sites (some as far away as the southern hemisphere). Breeding birds are fairly distinctive; in winter all molt into a subdued brownish plumage. This bird is a lesser, or American golden plover (identifiable from the long wings relative to the length of the tail). This is how these elegant birds are typically seen the continental US: during their long migrations between their Arctic breeding grounds and their winter range in South America. I took the pictures at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area near Riverside, California; we seldom see golden plovers in California and they are especially rare at this site. The bottom image shows the relative sizes of 4 different plover species (American golden plover, black-bellied plover, semipalmated plover, and kildeer). This page shows a particularly dull-colored winter adult. |
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