Introduction

Editor's Note: Coverage of  American and Pacific golden-plovers is combined here in one account, as it was in the initial BNA publication on these species.  Future revisions of this account will provide separate treatments for these birds. 

American and Pacific golden-plovers are conspicuous breeding birds on North American and Asian tundras, and by their extensive migrations they link these regions with a vast area of the world. These morphologically similar plovers were formerly regarded as subspecies. Recent, decisive studies on sympatric breeding grounds have shown no hybridization between the two and led to their reclassification as full species (Am. Ornithol. Union 1993). To most effectively describe and compare distinctive features of these closely related taxa, we present them here in a combined treatment. Unless otherwise indicated, the text applies to both species.

The American Golden-Plover nests from Baffin Island, Canada, to the eastern edge of Siberia and winters in South America. The Pacific Golden-Plover breeds from the Yamal Peninsula, Russia, to western Alaska and winters within an immense range from coastal California and across much of the insular Pacific to Australia, southeast Asia, and northeast Africa. Breeding grounds converge in the Bering Strait region, with the Pacific Golden-Plover common in western Alaska and the American Golden-Plover rare in eastern Siberia. Migrations often involve long, nonstop, transoceanic flights.

Nests are shallow scrapes lined with lichens, and clutches typically contain four eggs. Both sexes incubate and care for the young. There is strong male-biased fidelity to specific breeding territories in successive seasons. Territories are large (10–50 ha); are defined by aerial displays and vocalizations of males; and are defended by both members of the pair (especially the male) against conspecifics, congeners, and other intruders. Individuals are often territorial on their wintering grounds.