# European Golden-Plover (*Pluvialis apricaria*) The European Golden-Plover is a beautiful bird with golden spots on its back. It loves to live in open fields and can often be seen running around looking for food. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![European Golden-Plover](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/.00_3155_Goldregenpfeifer_%28Pluvialis_apricaria%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: W. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:.00_3155_Goldregenpfeifer_%28Pluvialis_apricaria%29.jpg) ## Appearance The European Golden-Plover has a striking appearance with golden-yellow spangles across its dark brown back and wings. In breeding plumage, it features a bold black face and belly, sharply contrasted by a broad white stripe separating it from its golden crown and flanks. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Charadriiformes - **Family:** Charadriidae - **Genus:** Pluvialis ## Interesting facts - During courtship, males perform incredible aerial dives and tumbles to impress females. - Golden-Plovers often gather in huge flocks during migration, creating spectacular aerial displays! - The "Plover's Pageant" is a charming collective noun for a group of these beautiful birds. - Their chicks are precocial, meaning they can walk and feed themselves shortly after hatching. ## Special abilities - **Long-Distance Navigator:** European Golden-Plovers can migrate thousands of kilometers because they have incredible stamina and an innate sense of direction. - **Ground Nest Guardian:** European Golden-Plovers can protect their eggs by creating a camouflaged nest scrape on the ground, making it hard to spot. - **Keen-Eyed Forager:** European Golden-Plovers can spot tiny insects and worms from a distance because they have excellent vision. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 26-29 cm - **Wingspan:** 67-76 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.22 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-12 years - **Speed:** 85 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-4 - **Incubation:** 27-31 days - **Migration Distance:** 3500 km ## Diet & Feeding These birds mostly snack on juicy insects and worms, sometimes enjoying a berry or two! - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Earthworms, Spiders, Fly larvae, Snails, Berries - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Red Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-fox) (*Vulpes vulpes*) — Preys on eggs and chicks. - **Eaten by:** [Peregrine Falcon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peregrine-falcon) (*Falco peregrinus*) — Hunts adult plovers during migration. - **Eats:** Common Earthworm (*Lumbricus terrestris*) — A primary food source for foraging plovers. - **Depends on:** Purple Moor-grass (*Molinia caerulea*) — Provides crucial nesting cover and insect habitat. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Spotted](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spotted): Marked with spots or patches of a different color. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Golden-Plover? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is European Golden-Plover? 26-29 cm ### What is European Golden-Plover's wingspan? 67-76 cm ### How much does European Golden-Plover weigh? 0.15-0.22 kg ### How long does European Golden-Plover live? 5-12 years ### How fast can European Golden-Plover move? 85 km/h ### What does European Golden-Plover eat? These birds mostly snack on juicy insects and worms, sometimes enjoying a berry or two! ### Where is European Golden-Plover usually found? Grasslands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [European Golden-Plover: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-golden-plover)