Are Pacific Golden-Plovers endangered?

What happens to the young of the Pacific golden plover?

Young Pacific Golden-Plovers are able to run soon after hatching. The first-hatched chicks forage near the nest while the adult continues to incubate late-hatching eggs. The Pacific Golden-Plover and the American Golden-Plover were once considered subspecies of the same species.

What birds are similar to the golden plover?

Similar birds are the European Golden-Plover, Pluvialis apricaria, and the American Golden-Plover, Pluvialis dominica. The Pacific golden plover is more similar to the American golden plover, with which it was once considered the lesser golden plover.

Is the Pacific golden plover the same as the American golden plover?

The Pacific Golden-Plover and the American Golden-Plover were once considered subspecies of the same species. However, where their breeding ranges overlap in western Alaska, they nest in slightly different habitats, have different display calls, and do not interbreed.

What is the breeding habitat of Pacific golden plover?

The breeding habitat of Pacific golden plover is the Arctic tundra from northernmost Eurosiberia into western Alaska. It nests on the ground in a dry open area. It is migratory and winters in south Asia and Australasia. A few winter in California and Hawaii, USA.

What happens to a golden plover when it flies non-stop?

To complicate matters even more, the Pacific golden plover loses 0.6% of its body weight every hour that it flies non-stop. There are two significant problems in this long journey; the fact that it cannot gain energy during its flight, and the problem of navigation.

Is the Pacific golden plover a migratory bird?

The Pacific golden plover is a migratory bird. The mother and father birds leave their nests in Alaska when their chicks are only a few months old, and return to Hawaii where they are originally from. Chicks by then have not yet learned how to fly [1].

Where do golden plovers live in Alaska?

A ravishing shorebird, the Pacific Golden-Plover breeds in western Alaska and Siberia and winters on islands throughout the Pacific Ocean, by way of southeast Asia, to northeastern Africa. It is unusual in North America, discovered breeding in Alaska, and migrating and wintering in small numbers alongside the Pacific Coast.

What does a golden plover bird look like?

Pacific Golden-Plovers have darkish brown upperparts, spangled with gold to pale yellow or white. A white stripe extends from the brow, over the eyes, to the wings. Breeding males are stable black from chin to under-tail coverts.

Is there a golden plover in Australia?

The American Golden Plover, P. dominica, is very similar, with only slight differences in wings, plumage and voice, but is not a common visitor to Australia. The Pacific Golden Plover breeds on the Arctic tundra in western Alaska. It winters in South America and islands of the Pacific Ocean to India, Indonesia and Australia.

What is the difference between the Pacific golden plover and grey plover?

The Pacific Golden Plover is also know as the Eastern, Lesser or Least Golden Plover. The non breeding or juvenile Grey Plover, P. squatarola, is similar to the Pacific Golden Plover, but is larger and bulkier, with a more hunched outline and thicker bill.

How many different species of golden plovers are there?

There are two other species of golden plover – the American golden plover, and the Pacific golden plover. Both birds are very rare visitors to the UK each year. Seen a bird and not sure what it is?

What are the characteristics of a Pacific golden plover?

During the breeding season, Pacific Golden-Plovers dazzle with gold-spangled feathers and a jet-black face and breast. These graceful, long-winged shorebirds breed on arctic tundra, usually in lower, wetter slopes than the closely related American Golden-Plover. Both species perform fluttery courtship flights, giving mellow calls.

What is the difference between a golden plover and a shorebird?

These graceful, long-winged shorebirds breed on arctic tundra, usually in lower, wetter slopes than the closely related American Golden-Plover. Both species perform fluttery courtship flights, giving mellow calls.

Where does the Pacific golden plover live?

The Pacific Golden Plover breeds on the Arctic tundra in western Alaska. It winters in South America and islands of the Pacific Ocean to India, Indonesia and Australia. In Australia it is widespread along the coastline.

Where do plovers migrate to?

This beautiful gold-spangled plover breeds annually on the Arctic tundra of Siberia and Alaska. It is one of around 40 Arctic breeding wading bird species that migrate south to Australasia and Oceania, some of which fly over the Pacific Ocean and spend the austral summer in New Zealand.

What is the breeding season for the golden plover?

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.

What does a golden plover look like?

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 is a plover bird?

Plovers or Masked Lapwings are fairly large birds. They have long reddish legs and large yellow facial wattles. They inhabit virtually the whole of Australia and are commonly found on the shores of swamps and lakes. They commonly inhabit large grassy areas, particularly those areas cleared for pasture or parkland.

What is the difference between a Pacific golden plover and American plover?

The Pacific Golden-Plover is slimmer than the American golden plover, has longer legs, and usually has more yellow on the back. The Pacific golden plover is migratory, breeds during May, June, and July in Alaska and Siberia. Migrates south to Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands in August and September, and stays until April or May.

What kind of bird is a golden plover?

The Pacific Golden Plover is a slender upright shorebird (wader), with a rounded head, slim neck, short fine bill and long legs. It has large eyes.

How long would it take a golden plover to migrate to Hawaii?

That Disney–like scenario is real life for the Pacific Golden–Plover, according to Wally Johnson, adjunct professor in ecology at Montana State University—Bozeman. The bird known as one of the longest non–stop migrants in the world probably makes the 3,000 mile trip from Alaska to Hawaii in 50 hours.

What months do golden plovers migrate?

The Pacific golden plover is migratory, breeds during May, June, and July in Alaska and Siberia. Migrates south to Asia, Australasia, and Pacific islands in August and September, and stays until April or May.