Wildlifeof China
Pacific Golden-Plover
Shorebirds
Photo: James M. Maley · CC BY 4.0
Pluvialis fulva
Basic stats
Diet
Terrestrial invertebrates, seeds, berries, molluscs, worms, fish, small vertebrates, and plant material
Habitat
Arctic tundra, beaches, mudflats, marshes, agricultural fields, airports, and other open ground
Range
Breeds in Siberia and western Alaska; winters across southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, Hawaii, and Pacific islands
Clutch size
Usually 4 eggs
Incubation period
About 25 days
Size
23–26 cm
Wingspan
Average 44 cm
Weight
108–228 g
Pacific golden-plovers breed along Arctic coasts in Siberia and western Alaska. Russian populations migrate toward southern and Southeast Asia, Australia, the South Pacific, or northeastern Africa, while Alaskan birds winter mainly on Pacific islands. Nesting occurs on open tundra among grasses, sedges, and lichen-covered rocks. Winter habitats include beaches, mudflats, coastal marshes, farmland, golf courses, and airports. Adults are 23–26 centimetres long, span about 44 centimetres, and weigh 108–228 grams (Animal Diversity Web).
These plovers forage by running, stopping, scanning, and pecking or probing the ground. Their broad omnivorous diet includes insects, worms, molluscs, brine shrimp, seeds, berries, leaves, flowers, fish, small vertebrates, and occasional bird eggs. Pairs are monogamous during a breeding season. Males advertise territories with butterfly-like aerial displays and prepare shallow nest scrapes. A typical clutch contains four eggs incubated for about 25 days. Precocial chicks feed themselves while both parents provide protection until flight develops (Animal Diversity Web).
Quick answers
- What does the Pacific Golden-Plover eat?
- Terrestrial invertebrates, seeds, berries, molluscs, worms, fish, small vertebrates, and plant material
- What habitat does the Pacific Golden-Plover live in?
- Arctic tundra, beaches, mudflats, marshes, agricultural fields, airports, and other open ground
- Where is the Pacific Golden-Plover found?
- Breeds in Siberia and western Alaska; winters across southern Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Africa, Hawaii, and Pacific islands
- How many eggs does the Pacific Golden-Plover lay?
- Usually 4 eggs
- How long are the eggs of the Pacific Golden-Plover incubated?
- About 25 days
- How big is the Pacific Golden-Plover?
- 23–26 cm
- What is the wingspan of the Pacific Golden-Plover?
- Average 44 cm
- How much does the Pacific Golden-Plover weigh?
- 108–228 g