NCI 2025
    Groups
    Mammals Birds Amphibians Reptiles Petromyz' – Lampreys Sharks & rays 4 Myxini – Hagfishes Dipneusti – Lungfish Gastropoda – Snails & slugs Chilopoda – Centipedes Coelac' – Coelacanths Cephalopoda – Squids & octopuses Malacostraca – Malacostracans Merostomata – Horseshoe crabs Arachnida – Spiders & scorpions Bivalvia – Marine molluscs Diplopoda – Millipedes Pycnogonida – Sea spiders Animals Ray-finned fishes Holocep' – Chimaeras Insecta – Insects / bugs More Classes
    Filters

    Regions

    See AllSelect

    Habitat

    See AllSelect

    European golden plover

      Saved In:

    Tough enough to navigate wild coastal winds and freezing temperatures

    Silver Leapers








      Saved In:


    European golden plover

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE

    Tough enough to navigate wild coastal winds and freezing temperatures

    Population 1.66M – 2.31M

    This bird really shows off the changing seasons in its feathers. In summer, you can spot them by their eye-catching tuxedo look: a jet-black face, throat, and belly set off by a golden, patterned brown back. What sets them apart from close relatives like the American or Pacific golden plovers is a clean white stripe running along their sides. This bright line separates the dark underside from the speckled gold top, making them look even more sharply dressed than other plovers.

    But these birds are more than just good-looking—they are true endurance athletes. Unlike many birds that hop and flutter, the European golden plover is made for long-distance flights. They fly fast, at speeds that would get you a speeding ticket in a school zone. One thing that makes them relatable is their social nature; they don’t like being alone. You’ll often see them in huge flocks, sometimes with thousands of birds. They also get along well with other species, often seen in fields with Northern Lapwings. Their large groups help them stay safe, as all those extra eyes watch for predators while they search for food in the mud.

    Another interesting thing about these birds is their place in history. The European golden plover is actually the reason the Guinness World Records book was created. In the 1950s, the managing director of Guinness Brewery argued with friends on a hunting trip about which game bird was the fastest in Europe—the golden plover or the red grouse. When he couldn’t find the answer in any book, he saw an opportunity to make a book that could settle these kinds of debates. So, if you’ve ever been amazed by a world record for the longest fingernails or the biggest pizza, you have this gold-speckled bird to thank for inspiring it.

    Distribution

    Country
    Population est.
    Status
    Year
    Comments
    Albania
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Armenia
    2020
    Austria
    2020
    Azerbaijan
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Belarus
    2020
    Breeding
    Belgium
    2020
    Bosnia And Herz.
    2020
    Bulgaria
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Croatia
    2020
    Cyprus
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Czechia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Denmark
    2020
    Estonia
    2020
    Breeding
    Faroe Islands
    2020
    Finland
    2020
    France
    2020
    Germany
    2020
    Greece
    2020
    Greenland
    2020
    Breeding
    Hungary
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Iceland
    2020
    Breeding
    Ireland
    2020
    Italy
    2020
    Latvia
    2020
    Liechtenstein
    2020
    Vagrant
    Lithuania
    2020
    Luxembourg
    2020
    Malta
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Montenegro
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Netherlands
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    North Macedonia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Norway
    2020
    Poland
    2020
    Portugal
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Romania
    2020
    Russia
    2020
    European Russia
    Serbia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Slovakia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Slovenia
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Spain
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    Svalbard
    2020
    Breeding
    Sweden
    2020
    Switzerland
    2020
    Turkey
    2020
    Non-Breeding
    United Kingdom
    2020

    Anything we've missed?

    Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!

    Suggest an edit

    Get to know me

    Terrestrial / Aquatic

    Altricial / Precocial

    Polygamous / Monogamous

    Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic

    Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal

    Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Flock

    Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore

    Migratory: Yes / No

    Domesticated: Yes / No

    Dangerous: Yes / No

    EXEWCRENVUNTLCDDNE
    Least Concern(IUCN)
    World Population 1.66M – 2.31M
    Honorary Patron: BioDB
    Become a Patron

    Threats

    Habitat destruction / Climate change / Freshwater pollution / Marine pollution / Deforestation / Farming / Fishing practices / Poaching & wildlife trade / Invasive species / Parasites & diseases / Noise pollution / Light pollution

    My ID

    Scientific name: Pluvialis apricaria Other names:

    Eurasian golden plover
    Greater golden plover
    Golden plover Number of subspecies: 2 Name of subspecies:

    P. a. altifrons
    P. a. apricaria

    Physical traits

    Length: 26 – 29 cm (10 – 11 in) Weight: 140 – 312 g (5 – 11 oz) Lifespan: 10 – 15 years Wingspan: 67 – 76 cm (26 – 30 in) Incubation: 27 – 31 days Eggs: 3 – 4 eggs
    Habitats: Marine Fresh water Marsh Shrubland Savannah/Grassland Tundra
    Regions: Asia Europe North America
    Add to my list
      Saved In: