European Golden Plover [Pluvialis apricaria]
Description
The European Golden Plover is a largish plover. This species is similar to two other golden plovers, but it is slightly smaller than both. Adults in breeding plumage are spotted gold and black on the crown, back and wings. Their face and neck are black with a white border; they have a black belly and white breast. In winter, the black is lost and the plover then has a yellowish face and breast, and white underparts.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Birds
Aves
|
| Order |
Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers
Charadriiformes
|
| Family |
Plovers
Charadriidae
|
| Genus |
Golden Plovers
Pluvialis
|