PLOVERS 
183 
finer and sharper than on the Black-bellied, and those on breast and flanks tend towards 
faintly suggested bars instead of stripes. In any plumage, the Golden Plover is to be 
known from the Black-bellied by its rump, unicoloured with the back, dark tail, grey 
instead of black axillars, and the absence of even a 
rudimentary hind toe (Figure 259, compare with 
262). 
Field Marks. In spring the Golden Plover 
with extensive black underparts can be mistaken 
only for the Black-bellied. Its dark crown and 
back make the best distinctions when the bird is 
still. When it is on the wing the axillars, evenly 
grey with the under surface of the wing, and 
absence of white rump, are quite conspicuous 
(Figure 261). 
In the juvenile, the faint indications of barring 
on breast, and the underwing and rump marks are 
the best field marks. The notes are also quite 
different, but must be heard before the difference 
can be appreciated. 
Distribution. North and South America. Breeds 
along most of the Arctic coast and migrates more 
or less commonly throughout southern Canada. It 
is supposed that the spring migration is mostly 
through the interior of the continent and the 
autumn migration off the coast well out to sea. In 
the east, a continuous flight from Nova Scotia to 
Brazil is postulated, but certainly numbers of 
juveniles take a far more commonplace route, 
and in the autumn are seen in the interior. 
SUBSPECIES. The American Golden Plover is divided into two subspecies— the 
Eastern Golden Plover (le Pluvier dor6 de l’Est) Pluvialis dominica dormmca, covering 
most of the continent and migrating to the pampas of Brazil and the Argentine; and the 
Pacific Golden Plover (le Pluvier dor6 du Pacifique) Pluvialis dominica fulva , confined to 
the west coast, breeding in northwestern Alaska and adjoining Asia and migrating to 
China, Oceania, and New Zealand. It is slightly smaller and, especially in autumn, is 
more heavily and generally washed with yellow and buff. 
Figure 260 
Golden Plover; scale, L 
(Juvenile or Winter) 
O, < 5 . 
Figure 261 
Field marks of: a, Black-bellied; b. Golden Plover. 
The American Golden Plover is very closely related to the European 
Golden Plover that has the lining of wings white. Within the memory oi 
living sportsmen large flocks were regularly seen in the east, but now only 
occasional birds are met with. It is doubtful if it was ever numerous in 
the west, either in the interior or on the west coast. 
