Pluvialis apricaria
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Mass
~210 g
Habitat
Grasslands and meadows
Diet
Insects and invertebrates
How to recognize it
The European Golden-Plover looks compact and sturdy, with a neat, no-nonsense shape. In calm moments it seems plain enough, but in flight it is easy to notice for the speed and steady rhythm of its wingbeats.
Its call is short and level, a simple “tuu”. In spring the males also sing in display flights, and in Iceland the first arrival is treated as a sign that spring has returned.
It uses open bogs, wet meadows, rough ground, and tundra, then moves south in winter to fields and coasts in milder parts of Europe. It feeds on the ground on insects, worms, snails, and also takes seeds, berries, and green plant parts.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The European Golden-Plover looks compact and sturdy, with a neat, no-nonsense shape. In calm moments it seems plain enough, but in flight it is easy to notice for the speed and steady rhythm of its wingbeats.
Its call is short and level, a simple “tuu”. In spring the males also sing in display flights, and in Iceland the first arrival is treated as a sign that spring has returned.
It uses open bogs, wet meadows, rough ground, and tundra, then moves south in winter to fields and coasts in milder parts of Europe. It feeds on the ground on insects, worms, snails, and also takes seeds, berries, and green plant parts.
