The Pacific Golden-Plover is a migratory bird that belongs to the plover family. They are known for their beautiful plumage, which makes them stand out among other birds.
Basic Description
The Pacific Golden-Plover has striking black and white feathers with a golden head and neck during breeding season. During winter, they have a duller brownish-gray coloration on their back and wings. They measure about 9-10 inches in length and weigh around 3-5 ounces.
Where To Find This Bird
Pacific Golden Plovers breed in the Arctic tundra of Alaska, Canada, and Russia but migrate southward to spend winters as far away as Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji Islands or even South America. Moreover These birds fly across vast stretches of ocean without stopping to rest or feed.
Habitat
During breeding season (May-August), these birds prefer to nest on dry open habitats such as gravelly ridges or rocky hillsides close by coastal wetlands while in nonbreeding times they prefer swamps,saline lakes,lagoons,mudflats,tidal flats,and beaches with vegetation cover for roosting spots where they can find shelter from predators.
Food
These birds feed mainly on insects like beetles,worms,caterpillars ,spiders etc., although during winter months it includes mollusks,bivalves,and crustaceans found along intertidal zones besides fruits like berries make up part of their diet too.
Cool Facts:
1) The Pacific Golden-Plover is known for its incredible endurance when it comes to migration; some individuals can fly up to 11K miles without stopping.
2) Males perform an elaborate strut display at breeding time involving high stepping movements aimed at attracting females
3) A group of plovers is called a congregation – this name seems fitting considering how many gather together outside the breeding season!
4) The Pacific Golden-Plover lays 4 eggs in a shallow nest and both parents take turns incubating them.
In conclusion, the Pacific Golden-Plover is a stunning bird with a fascinating life cycle. Although challenging to spot in its native habitat due to its migratory lifestyle, seeing one can be an unforgettable experience for nature lovers.
