Pacific Golden-Plover

Pluvialis fulva

The Pacific Golden-Plover is a medium-sized (25 cm) wader with a short, heavy bill.  In breeding plumage the male has a solid black face, throat, neck and underparts and mainly gold and black speckled crown and upperparts.  A white line runs across the forehead, over the eye and down the sides, separating the black underparts from the speckled crown, neck and wings.  The female is duller, with less black below.  In non-breeding plumage, both sexes are a buffy golden-brown with a paler eye stripe, sides of face and underparts.  The bill is black, the legs and feet are gray and the iris is dark brown.  The wings are long and pointed, and on the resting bird the tips extend past the tail.

The Pacific Golden-Plover frequents mudflats, sandbars, open grassy areas, lawns, agricultural fields and airports, especially near the coast.  It feeds on a wide variety of insects, spiders, millipedes, snails and worms, and may be found singly or in flocks.

The Pacific Golden-Plover breeds in northern Russia, Siberia and northwest Alaska.  In Taiwan it is a common migrant and winter visitor.

References:  A Field Guide to the Birds of China (Mackinnon and Phillipps); 100 Common Birds of Taiwan (Wild Bird Society of Taipei); Handbook of Birds of the World Vol. 3