AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER 189 



He saw them also in Argentina during November and December, 

 where they seemed " to be restricted during the resting period to 

 the better watered grass-grown eastern pampa." 

 Again (1927) he says: 



The golden plover in the south has been most common on open plains, but 

 ranges to some extent on the mud flats of the coast. It is in this last area 

 that the species may be expected to survive as the pampas become more 

 closely occupied by man. These birds are hunted extensively and so many 

 have been killed both in the north and south that their numbers have 

 been greatly reduced. Though recorded in its nesting range as only fairly 

 common at best, the region where the golden plover is found at this season is 

 extensive, so that the number of birds in existence is still considerable. 

 Careful watch should be kept on its abundance. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — North and South America, accidential in Europe. 



Breeding range. — The breeding range of tlie American golden 

 plover has not been defiiiitely separated from that of its western 

 relative {Pluvialis d. fulva). It has, however, been found that in 

 Alaska fulva is more nearly confined to the northwestern coastal 

 regions, while dominica is in the interior and on the northern coast. 



The breeding range may be defined as extending north to Alaska 

 (Point Barrow, Collison Point, and Demarcation Point) ; Baffin 

 Island (Kangianga, Tikerakdjuak, and Kangidli) ; and Franklin 

 (Walker Bay, Bay of Mercy, Winter Harbor, Wellington Channel, 

 and probably Igloolik). East to Baffin Island; Franklin (probably 

 Igloolik and Winter Island) ; and northeastern Keewatin ("Wliale 

 Point). South to Keewatin (Whale Point); Mackenzie (Casba 

 River, Lac de Gras, Bernard Harbor, Rendezvous Lake, Fort An- 

 derson, and Fort McPherson) ; and Alaska (Gens de Large Moun- 

 tains, Beaver Mountains, and probably Nushagak). West to Alaska 

 (probably Nushagak and Point Barrow), 



It also has been detected in summer in Greenland (Jacobshaven 

 and Godthaab), but there is no e^ddence of breeding in that region. 



Winter range. — The winter range of the American golden plover 

 extends north to rarely Chile (Arica) ; and rarely Brazil (Villa 

 Maria, Matto Grosso, and Rio de Janeiro). East to rarely Brazil 

 (Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catharina) ; Uruguay (Montevideo) ; 

 and Argentina (La Plata, Cape San Antonio, and Bahia Blanca). 

 South to Argentina (Bahia Blanca, Sierra de la Ventana, Carhue, 

 and Mendoza). West to western Argentina (Mendoza) ; and rarely 

 Chile (Arica). On rare occasions individuals may pass the winter 

 season at more northern points as Nauta, Peru (Sharpe), and Old 

 Harbor, Costa Rica (Carriker). Winter occurrences at other north- 



