108 



Genus — Pluvialis. Golden Plovers. 



272. American Golden Plover, fk. — lb pltjvier dore d'amerique. Pluvialii 

 dominions. L, 10-50. Spring plumage — back almost black to top of head, with numerous 

 yellow feather-tips, more scanty on crown; forehead and line over eye, descending to 

 sides of breast, white; throat, foreneck, and all underparts solid black. Autumn plumage 

 — above, dull brown with many cream to yellow feather-edge spots aggregating on rump 

 and crown; throat and face, white or whitish slightly spotted; breast and all below, 

 faintly barred with dull white and light tints of the brown of the back. All intermediate 

 plumages may be seen. 



Distinctions. A slightly smaller bird than the foregoing but easily confused with it. 

 The large amount of yellow on the back of spring plumage and the faint barrings of the 

 breast and underparts in the autumn are characteristic. The absence of any trace of 

 hind toe is diagnostic in any plumage. 



Field Marks. Needing separation from only the previous species. Extended wing 

 without any indication of white band; axillars smoke-grey instead of conspicuous black; 

 rump not white. 



Distribution. Breeds on the barren grounds from Hudson bay westward. It is said 

 to have extraordinary migration routes. In the autumn it moves eastward to Labrador, 

 then southward across the gulf of St. Lawrence to Nova Scotia, whence it takes an over-sea 

 route to Brazil without touching intermediate land unless storm-driven. From Brazil 

 it works down to the Argentine pampas. In the spring it strikes western South America 

 about Ecuador, crosses the isthmus of Panama and the gulf of Mexico, and follows up the 

 Mississippi valley to its breeding grounds. That it takes this immense flight over the 

 broad Atlantic without resting seems too remarkable to be true, but as it is not a pro- 

 ficient swimmer able to rest on the water at will, the evidence points towards this conclu- 

 sion. 



SUBSPECIES. The American Golden Plover is divided into two subspecies; only 

 the Eastern Golden Plover, the type form, occurs in eastern Canada. 



Once far more common than now. Within the memory of living 

 sportsmen large flocks were regularly seen; now only occasional birds are 

 met with. It is very closely related to the Golden Plover of Europe. 



Genus — Oxyechus. Killdeer. 



273. Killdeer Plover, pr. — le pltjvier kildir. Oxyechus vociferus. L, 10-50. 

 Plate IX A. 



Distinctions. As the Killdeer is the largest of the Ring-necked Plovers it can hardly 

 be confused with its smaller relatives. The double instead of single breast-band also 

 distinguishes it from them. 



Field Marks. Size, two breast-bands instead of one, striking ochraceous tail and 

 rump, and distinctive call of " Kildee-kUdee-kildee." 



Nesting. A mere hollow in the ground scantily lined with vegetable fragments. 



Distribution. A species of remarkably wide range, breeding from the northern limits 

 of cultivation in Canada to the gulf of Mexico. Rare or absent from vicinity of either 

 coast. 



A common summer bird over all Canada except in the sea-coast 

 districts. Its loud voice is familiar to all country residents and visitors. 

 A true Shore Bird, it frequents the high, dry uplands and cultivated fields, 

 often nesting in the ploughed furrows amidst the crops. When its young 

 are hatched, however, it usually leads them to water, some quiet nearby 

 pool as a rule, and as soon as they are able to take care of themselves they 

 gather in small scattered flocks. That this species has been able to survive 

 and thrive in the midst of cultivation and civilization while other species 

 apparently as well able to take care of themselves have succumbed, is 

 probably due to its comparatively solitary habits and to its not generally 

 gathering in dense flocks, the pursuit of which is profitable. 



