Geographic Range
In summer months American golden plovers migrate from South America to Hudson Bay,
northern Alaska, and Baffin island, their breeding grounds. They have also been spotted
in Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Quebec. American golden plovers arrive on their summer
grounds in mid-May. In the fall American golden plovers travel to Argentina, Uruguay,
and Brazil for the winter.
- Biogeographic Regions
- nearctic
- neotropical
Habitat
American golden plovers live in temperate, grassland areas. In winter, American golden
plovers are found along the Rio de la Plata in the surrounding grasslands. In spring
they migrate to arctic tundra regions.
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- polar
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- tundra
- savanna or grassland
- Wetlands
- marsh
- Other Habitat Features
- riparian
Physical Description
American golden plovers closely resemble Pacific golden plovers (
Pulvialis fulva
), and the two were originally thought to be the same species. Both have wing undersides
that are a grey-brown color and their wings are almost identical in size. American
golden plovers have a longer, thinner body with a shorter neck and larger head, a
tibia that is shorter than its bill, and a shorter bill relative to head size than
Pacific golden plovers.
American golden plovers weigh between 122 and 194 g, averaging 144.6 g. They are 23
to 30 cm in length, and have a wingspan of 45.7 to 66.0 cm with average wingspan being
50.8 cm across.
American golden plovers resemble black-bellied plovers (
Pulvialis squatarola
) in coloration during the winter breeding season, although they are more golden in
color. They are speckled grey and white on their underside (more grey than black-bellied
plovers), and are speckled golden, white, and black on the head, back, and tail feathers.
In the non-breeding season, American golden plovers appear more golden on their back
and head. They lack a wing stripe and males are slightly more colorful than females.
Juvenile stage first non-breeding year plumage is a mix of juvenile and adult-like
feathers after a post-juvenile moult. The first pre-breeding feathers look similar
to adults after a moult occurs to replace the tail and body feathers of the first
non-breeding feathers. American golden plovers have a post-breeding moult, replacing
their breeding plumage with an eclipse plumage. This eclipse plumage replaces breeding
plumage when they reach their southern wintering grounds. Eclipse plumage is more
yellow and brown in color. Females retain more of their winter feathers than males.
Males grow new tertials and wing coverts, and females do not. This is why males are
brighter in color than females. On their northwards migration in spring, they begin
to moult into breeding plumage.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- Sexual Dimorphism
- male more colorful
Reproduction
In late April, American golden plovers engage in what is known as "torpedo runs."
This occurs within the first few days of reaching their breeding territory. Males
will chase a female while exhibiting a series of winglifts accompanied by trill sounds.
The male will separate a female from other members of the group, and will fight off
any males who come near. "Torpedo runs" are used both for courtship and as a aggressive
maneuver. There is no identifiable difference between chases used in courtship and
those used in an aggressive manner.
All male plovers also perform flight songs when first arriving at breeding grounds.
These flight songs are used to attract a mate. There are few characterstics that distinguish
the flight songs of American golden plovers from those of Pacific golden plovers (
P. fulva
). However, Pacific golden plovers descend smoothly and softly while American golden
plovers decend steeply and quickly. Their song can be recognized because it has four,
short tones, and is thought to sound like "clicking." The song is performed quickly
and repetitively. Other tundra plovers have less tones in their songs and perform
longer, both in tonation and in invervals between tones. All tundra plover species'
flights have a common main component called "butterfly flight" in which the male will
move his wings in "slow, jerky, and stiff wingbeats."
American golden plovers are monogamous, mating with only one other individual.
- Mating System
- monogamous
Breeding begins shortly after arriving on breeding territory and eggs are laid a few
weeks later. American golden plovers build nests on the Arctic coast in tundra areas.
Nests built in areas with lichen are less likely to be destroyed by predators. Nests
are built on uniform surroundings that help camouflage the nest. Nests are the smallest
built by any tundra plover species. A female lays 1 to 4 eggs (the average is 4) in
June. Each egg is large and weighs almost 20% of the female's body weight. The eggs
are creme or white in colored with brown and black spots. The eggs hatch 22 to 30
days after being layed. Fledging occurs approximately 22 days after the egg hatches
and they become independent soon after. American golden plover hatchlings are sexually
mature when they return to breeding grounds the next year.
Each pair will only mate once per season, unless their eggs are lost due to predation
or other reasons early in the breeding season. If eggs are lost later in the season,
the pair will not breed again. Studies have shown that chicks that hatch early in
the season have a better chance of survival (because they have more time to grow and
develop before the migration to Rio de la Plata).
- Key Reproductive Features
- iteroparous
- seasonal breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- oviparous
Male and female American golden plovers spend equal amounts of time incubating their
eggs and caring for their young. Each parent will spend 12 straight hours incubating
the eggs, males during the day and females at night. Little information is available
about parental care after hatching, but it appears to be the same as other tundra
plovers. After hatching, males tend to spend more time caring for young than females,
48% of males make nest visits when they are "off-duty." Both parents forage in their
breeding territory, however males spend more time on breeding territory (at least
partially because of the off-duty nest visits). In other tundra plovers, the male
continues to spend more time caring for young, and the female may leave before the
chicks have left the nest. In cases where females do not leave before the chicks are
mature enough be on on their own, both parents provide equally for the chicks until
they reach independence. Both males and females protect and care for their eggs, and
they decrease the amount of protection they provide for their precocial young once
the eggs hatch.
- Parental Investment
- precocial
-
pre-fertilization
- provisioning
-
protecting
- female
-
pre-hatching/birth
-
provisioning
- female
-
protecting
- male
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-weaning/fledging
-
provisioning
- male
- female
-
protecting
- male
- female
-
provisioning
-
pre-independence
-
provisioning
- male
- female
-
protecting
- male
- female
-
provisioning
Lifespan/Longevity
Males tend to live longer than females. Lifespans are usually between 8 and 15 years
in the wild.
Behavior
American golden plovers generally fly from breeding grounds to wintering grounds non-stop,
unless they encounter unfavorable winds while flying over the Bahamas. Some individuals
winter in the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the northern portion of South America.
Additional individuals may stop on the way to rest for a short period of time. Adults
tend to migrate a few weeks prior to juveniles. Adult females also migrate a little
sooner than adult males.
When migrating back to their breeding ground, American golden plovers stop briefly
in Texas, flying up the middle of the United States.
Home Range
Exact distances for home range during breeding and nonbreeding season are unknown.
Females have a larger home range than males during breeding season. American golden
plovers are highly territorial during breeding season, although their territory is
limited to the nesting site and a limited surrounding area. In nonbreeding season,
American golden plovers are not territorial.
Communication and Perception
American golden plovers communicate with each other using various calls. These calls
include: trill, main/wail song, and alarm calls. Both the trill and main songs are
used in the male flight song. Main song makes up the main portion of the song. Both
trill and main songs have 4 short and quick tones. There are 6 different trill sequences
used by
P. dominica
, much less than other tundra plovers. Alarm calls are more diverse than any other
tundra plover. The call contains "whistles, yodel whistles, and clicking," and has
also been described as a "clear, short, whistled
oodle-oo
" as well as "
too-leet, too-leet."
The flight call it thought to sound sad and urgent. Females tend to alarm call more
during the incubation period than males. After hatching, alarm calls occur more equally
between sexes.
American golden plovers also communicate visually. Males communicate with females
using their flight songs, "torpedo runs," and butterfly wing motions. Both sexes will
perform a type of flapping known as lapwings to show other members of the species
that there is danger.
Food Habits
During the breeding season, terrestial snails, insects and insect larvae, seeds, freshwater
crustaceans, and insect larvae make up the majority of the American golden plovers
diet. During this time, both males and females forage on their breeding territories.
Females feed at greater distances than do males, and males return to the nest more
often. When not breeding, terrestial earthworms, insects and insect larvae, berries,
seeds, and freshwater fish make up the majority of their diet. Diet is influenced
by local abundance of prey and temperatures. The breeding season in the arctic is
marked by cold weather and local mudflats often freeze, forcing these plover to forage
more on land. Species eaten include: juvenile southwestern Atlantic fiddle crabs (
Uca uruguayensis
), crowberries (
Empetrum nigrum
), cranberries (
Vaccinium macrocarpon
), and cloudberries (
Rubus chamaemorus
). It is unknown whether males and females have different feeding preferences.
American golden plovers eats foods whole, exhibiting a "run-stop-peck" feeding pattern.
Because they lack nerve endings at the end of their beaks, they use their hard, sharp
beaks to grab prey quickly and forcefully. Their beaks contain relatively unspecialized
muscles which adds to the force with which prey is grabbed and to the range of movement
in their jaw muscles. Thay also have strong neck muscles that keep their heads erect
and increase the force with which they grab prey.
- Primary Diet
-
carnivore
- insectivore
- eats non-insect arthropods
- molluscivore
- herbivore
- Animal Foods
- fish
- insects
- mollusks
- terrestrial worms
- aquatic or marine worms
- aquatic crustaceans
- other marine invertebrates
- Plant Foods
- fruit
Predation
American golden plovers exhibit various types of predator defense. When a possible
predator approaches its nest during breeding season, an adult will quickly leave the
nest. The adult will then try to capture the predators attention from a different
location, protecting the eggs. Circling and scolding the predator or "torpedo running"
are both used for defense. American golden plovers will also use alarm calls to warn
other plovers of the predators presence or perform lapwing motions. They sometimes
attack a predator, but this is rare. American golden plovers will only attack arctic
skuas (
Stercorarius parasiticus
) and long-tailed skuas (
Stercorarius longicaudus
).
American golden plovers are also able to blend in with their surroundings. When crouched
on the nest, they conceal the white feathers on their undersides (breeding plumage),
leaving only the darker, speckled feathers on the back visible. The dorsal plumage
blends in well with the lichen-covered tundra habitat in which they nest.
American golden plover males exhibit fierce behavior when defending their territory
during incubation from other American golden plovers. A male will "parallel walk"
or exhibit "upright frontal threat" posture when another male enters his territory.
Males will also physically fight, jumping on and pecking at one another. However,
they do not use "torpedo running" or exhibit other behaviors that are used against
predators. After the chicks hatch, American golden plovers cease defending their territory.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
There is little information available on the role of
P. dominica
in its ecosystem. Because American golden plovers eat large numbers of insects and
insect larvae, crustaceans, seeds, and berries, they reduce these populations. They
may help disperse the seeds of the berries they eat.
- Ecosystem Impact
- disperses seeds
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
For centuries, American golden plovers were hunted. In the late 18th century, there
was an enormous decline in their numbers due to hunting. In one day it was recorded
that 50,000 were killed and sold in a single market. The species became protected
in most of the western hemisphere, and was taken off the game list. In addition, much
of their wintering range has been protected. American golden plover populations have
now rebounded, and are not currently listed as protected.
American golden plovers are important shorebirds in both Argentina and Alaska that
attract ecotourism. In addition, they are important research subjects because of their
long migrations and migratory patterns.
- Positive Impacts
- food
- research and education
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There are no known adverse effects of P. dominica on humans.
Conservation Status
American golden plovers have a large migratory range and are not experiencing significant threats to their current population of approximately 150,000 individuals. For these reasons, they are listed as "least concern" on the IUCN Red List and are not identified as at risk by other management agencies.
Other Comments
In the past, most authors (writing about plovers) believed that American golden plovers
and Pacific golden plovers were two subspecies of the same species. This was believed
because the difference their geographical regions was believed to be a clinal- a gradual
change of adjacent populations of the same species.
Additional Links
Contributors
Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
Amber Cussen (author), Kalamazoo College, Ann Fraser (editor, instructor), Kalamazoo College.
- Nearctic
-
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Neotropical
-
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- polar
-
the regions of the earth that surround the north and south poles, from the north pole to 60 degrees north and from the south pole to 60 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- tundra
-
A terrestrial biome with low, shrubby or mat-like vegetation found at extremely high latitudes or elevations, near the limit of plant growth. Soils usually subject to permafrost. Plant diversity is typically low and the growing season is short.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- marsh
-
marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds.
- riparian
-
Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- monogamous
-
Having one mate at a time.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- oviparous
-
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female; development of offspring occurs outside the mother's body.
- young precocial
-
young are relatively well-developed when born
- diurnal
-
- active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- migratory
-
makes seasonal movements between breeding and wintering grounds
- solitary
-
lives alone
- territorial
-
defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement
- social
-
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- insectivore
-
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
- molluscivore
-
eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- frugivore
-
an animal that mainly eats fruit
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
References
Alerstam, T., G. Gudmundsson, M. Green, A. Hedenstroem. 2001. Migration along orthodromic sun compass routes by Arctic birds. Science , 291: 300-303. Accessed November 11, 2006 at http://ask.lub.lu.se/archive/00017824/01/Alerstam_etal_Science_2001.pdf .
Allen, A. 1939. The Golden Plover and Other Plovers . Ithaca, New York: Com stock Publishing Inc..
Byrkjedal, I. 1998. Tundra Plovers . 24-28 Oval Road, London, NWI 7DX: T & AD Poyser Ltd.
Connors, P. 1983. Taxonomy, distribution, and evolution of Golden Plovers ( Pluvialis dominica and Pluvialis fulva ). Auk , 100: 607-620.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2004. "Cornell Lab of Ornthology All About Birds" (On-line). American-Golden Plover. Accessed November 11, 2006 at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/American_Golden-Plover_dtl.html .
Gough, G., J. Sauer, M. Iliff. 1998. "Patuxent Bird Identification Infocenter." (On-line). Accessed October 15, 2006 at http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html .
Iribarne, O., M. Mariano. 1999. Predation on the Southwestern Atlantic Fiddler Crab (Uca uruguayensis) by migratory shorebirds (Pluvalis dominica, P. squatarola, Arenaria interpres , and Numenius phaeopus) . Estuaries , 22: 47-54.
Jukema, J., I. Tulp, L. Bruinzeel. 2003. Differential moult patterns in relation to antipredator behaviour during incubation in four tundra plovers. Ibis , 145:2: 270-276. Accessed November 11, 2006 at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1474-919X.2003.00147.x .
Krijgsveld, K., J. Reneerkens, G. McNett, R. Ricklefs. 2003. Time budgets and body temperatures of American Golden-Plover chicks in relation to ambient temperature. The Condor , 105: 268-278.
National Audubon Society, 2005. "Audubon" (On-line). American-Golden Plover. Accessed November 11, 2006 at http://web1.audubon.org/waterbirds/species.php?speciesCode=amegol&tab=natHistory .
Robbins, C., B. Bruun, H. Zim. 1983. http://zipcodezoo.com/Animals/P/Pluvialis_dominica.asp . New York: Golden Press.
Robbins, C., B. Bruun, H. Zim. 1966. A Guide to Field Identification Birds of North America . New York: Golden Press.
Sibley, D. 2003. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..
Sibley, D. 2003. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..
Sibley, D. 2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..
Sibley, D. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc..
The Wilderness Society, 1998. "America's Arctic Bird Connection" (On-line). Fact Sheet--American- Golden Plover ( Pluvialis dominica ). Accessed November 12, 2006 at http://earthday.wilderness.org/backyard/amazing/americangoldenplover.pdf .
Thompson, D., I. Byrkjedal. 2001. Shorebirds . Minnesota: Voyageur Press.
Yukon Government, 2006. "Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope)" (On-line). Shorebirds. Accessed November 11, 2006 at http://www.taiga.net/wmac/consandmanagementplan_volume3/shorebirds.html .
2004. "Shorebirds: Prairies to Patagonia" (On-line). Argentins: Shoresbirds of Argentina. Accessed November 11, 2006 at http://www.ppjv.org/Prairies_to_Patagonia/International/Argentina.htm .