Birds · Charadriiformes · Charadriidae

European Golden Plover

Pluvialis apricaria

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The European golden plover breeds on the peat bogs and tundra of northern Europe and spends the winter in large flocks across the farmland and marshes of the west and south of the continent, including much of the Iberian Peninsula. In breeding plumage the back is spangled with golden flecks and the belly is black; in winter it loses the black and becomes an unobtrusive beige bird. Its winter flocks can gather thousands of birds alongside lapwings.

Weight

140 g – 250 g

Size

26 cm – 29 cm

Lifespan

15 years

Diet

Insectivore

Feeds mainly on insects and other invertebrates.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

TundraFreshwaterGrasslandInsectivore Diurnal Bird Tundra Freshwater Grassland

43countries 6parks10same family

Fun facts

It was the unwitting cause of the Guinness Book of Records: an argument over whether the European golden plover was the fastest game bird in Europe led the managing director of the Guinness brewery to commission a book that would settle that sort of pub dispute.
Its winter flocks perform coordinated flights of thousands of birds, often mixed with lapwings, wheeling in unison and flashing alternately their dark backs and pale bellies.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
Habitat & environment: Peat bogs, moorland and tundra for breeding; farmland, stubble and marshes of southern Europe for wintering
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 30 days of incubation
Litter / clutch size: 4 eggs

Sources consulted: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_golden_plover