GOLDEN PLOVER 



Charadrius pluvialts 



>ROM the English grouse-moors in Yorkshire and Derby- 

 shire to the extreme north of Scotland, including the 

 Orkneys, Shetlands, and Hebrides, as also suitable localities 

 in Ireland, the Golden Plover is a fairly common species 

 during the breeding season, and frequents all our coasts 

 in winter, remaining inland in a few favoured districts. 



The Golden Plover loves the bare moors and open 



tracts of waste country, and is found in all such localities, from the benty 

 heath-covered wastes on some of our northern shores to the desolate bogs 

 and mountain tops of the Grampians or Cairngorms. When an intruder 

 appears near its haunts it instantly utters its alarm-note, a plaintive, long- 

 drawn whistle, often flying towards him and alighting quite close. Though 

 a very shy and wary bird during the winter, it forgets much of its usual 

 timidity during the breeding season, and may often be observed within a 

 short distance running along among the heather or grass, or standing motion- 

 less on some tussock watching. 



During the early spring Golden Plovers may be often seen in large 

 flocks feeding in the green fields or on the edge of the moors. If disturbed 

 they rise in a body, and after wheeling in the air once or twice, fly off to 

 some fresh feeding-grounds, generally in the form of a V, after the manner 

 of Wild Geese. 



The food of the Golden Plover consists chiefly of worms, grubs, and 

 small insects. During winter, when they principally frequent the coasts, they 

 live chiefly on marine animals, and in very hard weather they will eat small 

 seeds and morsels of various plants. During the winter large flocks of 

 Golden Plovers may often be observed feeding on the open sands, some 

 probing in the mud, others running swiftly to and fro, or standing motionless 

 with head erect, while some wade about in the little shallow pools. On the 

 slightest alarm the whole flock rises in the air, and, after performing various 



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