American Golden Plover

American golden plovers are long-distance migrants that breed on Arctic tundra in Alaska and northern Canada and winter mainly in the grasslands of southern South America. Breeding birds have dark underparts bordered by white and golden-spangled upper plumage, while nonbreeding birds are paler. Their migrations include exceptionally long flights, linking northern nesting grounds with feeding areas thousands of kilometers away across the Americas. (Animal Diversity Web)

These plovers forage with a run-stop-peck technique, taking insects, larvae, snails, worms, crustaceans, seeds and berries according to local availability. Pairs form on the breeding grounds and place a small, camouflaged nest depression among tundra vegetation and lichens. Both sexes incubate, generally dividing day and night duties. The downy chicks are precocial and begin moving and feeding shortly after hatching while remaining guarded by their parents. (Animal Diversity Web)